Lightweight solid front axle housing

3982 Views 10 Replies 3 Participants Last post by slomobile, Feb 4, 2021

slomobile

Discussion Starter · Jan 29, 2021

I'm building... a thing. About 800lbs loaded and occupied. Powered by 2 12HP electric motors(front) and a 70HP motorcycle engine(rear). 22.5" tires.

I need something to hold the front wheels apart, steer, drive, and weld to. No wheel suspension. The cab will be suspended but 3 wheels remain in the same plane relative to the chassis.
Recommend a lightweight solid steering axle housing and all the bits from wheel flange to 5 on 4.5" wheel flange excluding the center section. So really, tubes, knuckles, bearings, hubs, some type of outboard CV, and axles. Tubes will be shortened and center section replaced by inboard electric motors, planetary gears, and brakes.

Basically any castaway undesirable front end like a Dana 25 will do, but I want it as light as possible and with the greatest steering angle possible. Is there anything lighter than Sami stock housings? Did any ATV/UTV ever come with solid axles?
Perhaps an AWD rally or drift car part? Sprint car? Maybe weld a cage to ball joints and use the uprights from wishbone suspension without the wishbones? The loads this will see are very small compared to any passenger vehicle.

Hoping to see links that help me visualize different ways to do this.

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ray_mtt

· #2 · Jan 29, 2021

There are not many of these out there. But the Honda TRX 350 had a “solid” front axle.

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ray_mtt

· #3 · Jan 29, 2021

Or you can get to cutting and welding and build a steer axle from a solid golf cart axle like I did..... (some assembly required)

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ray_mtt

· #4 · Jan 29, 2021

The “Bad Boy Buggy” golf cart had one like the Honda 350, but they were cheesy with no bushings or ball joints and the bolts would eat the knuckles apart as you steered....

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slomobile

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 30, 2021

ray_mtt said:
The “Bad Boy Buggy” golf cart had one like the Honda 350, but they were cheesy with no bushings or ball joints and the bolts would eat the knuckles apart as you steered....

Thanks, the pictures help me get a sense of scale for the size of parts needed to handle less than truck weight. Not much different. Except for those U joints on the stub axles. What size are they and did they hold up? They look really small compared to the lug studs. Like steering shaft size.

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ray_mtt

· #6 · Jan 31, 2021

They are the steering shaft u-joints... I’m just installing it now. I think they will be fine. My son’s mini Jeep only weights just over 400 pounds.

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slomobile

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 1, 2021

I'm loving that plywood Jeep body. I wonder how well that would work on a real trail truck? Bash a panel, route another one on a Maslow and be out again in minutes for the cost of a quarter sheet of plywood. I wouldn't even paint it.
I considered using some quality steering U joints then figured that they need to have little or no backlash so steering feels tight. I thought that might cause excess heating and breakage in a continuous application. But that was just speculation. I'd like to hear how they are doing after accumulating miles.

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ray_mtt

· #8 · Feb 1, 2021

It’ll be a little while before it starts accumulating more miles... I’m updating the rear suspension to an4 link also and it’s been single digit temps here, so it’ll be a while before I can even paint my parts and do final assembly.

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4x4prepper

· #9 · Feb 3, 2021

Just Google :
Ford tractor 1715 4x4

I think they were all full width straight axle.

Ford 3910 FWD front axle repairs

Decided I am tired of oil drips on the shop floor so fixing some leaks. This tractor leaks out of the axle shaft seals which drips from the knuckles and it leaks out of the center section swivel. So I rigged up a stand to hold the tractor in place with the axle removed. Then strapped the axle...

www.tractorbynet.com

If you need 5x4.5 hubs with the standard 1/2x20 :

Wheel Hub 5 Bolt 1-1/4" Tapered | Wheel Hubs for Hydraulic Motors | Hydraulic Motors | Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com

Wheel Hub 5 Bolt 1-1/4 Tapered, Wheel Hubs for Hydraulic Motors, 5 BOLT WHEEL HUB Brand new, machined steel hub for use in drive wheel applications1-1726 ,

www.surpluscenter.com

The 3910 might be beefier then you want.

I have never used or even seen these in person, but, this smaller thing might be better suited for you.

2005 Kubota GR2100 AWD

I decided to go all hydraulic for my 6x6, so, I did not keep up on the smaller stuff.

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4x4prepper

· #10 · Feb 3, 2021

better pictures:

KUBOTA GR2000G 4WD FRONT AXLE 4WD COMPLETE WITH POWER STEERING CYL. K1253-15210 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for KUBOTA GR2000G 4WD FRONT AXLE 4WD COMPLETE WITH POWER STEERING CYL. K1253-15210 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

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slomobile

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 4, 2021

4x4prepper said:
better pictures:

KUBOTA GR2000G 4WD FRONT AXLE 4WD COMPLETE WITH POWER STEERING CYL. K1253-15210 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for KUBOTA GR2000G 4WD FRONT AXLE 4WD COMPLETE WITH POWER STEERING CYL. K1253-15210 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Oh! Thats the bees knees.
I planned on welding to the axle tube or spring perch, but those trunion pins might work much better.

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