Floaters: Mod-Lite, Strange Pro-Touring, Chassisworks Pro-Touring?

[cjfirstgen]

The Strange Pro HD aluminum center section is a much different animal then what is being referenced as an option for the OP. The Pro HD has a special channel to feed oil to the pinion bearing for cooling and the seal is retained by a snap ring so it is unable to push out. Furthermore with 3.25" pinion bearing or for 35 spline axles carries a lifetime warranty. No need for concern of this third member and its longevity. Again this is not your normal aluminum center section.

[Build-It-Break-it]

Hey Ron, with the Speedway floater mod lite rear end would it make sense to upgrade to 35 spline axles on the diff. side even tho the drive plate is smaller on the mod lite compared to the grand national.

Would the drive plate on high horse power cars give first on the mod lite at let's say 900hp ?

Ahmad

[Ron Sutton]

Originally Posted by Build-It-Break-it

Hey Ron, with the Speedway floater mod lite rear end would it make sense to upgrade to 35 spline axles on the diff. side even tho the drive plate is smaller on the mod lite compared to the grand national.

Would the drive plate on high horse power cars give first on the mod lite at let's say 900hp ?

Ahmad

Good questions. I'll do my best to answer.

a. All common floaters use the same OD & Spline out at the drive plate. Moser, Baer, Curry, Speedway Engineering, etc. are all the same size & spline at the drive plate. This is the same OD & Spline for NASCAR, trans Am, etc.

b. So when you're upsizing the spline in the Diff ... the spline at the drive plate doesn't change.

c. The axle OD is bigger with 35 spline axles. So it is a stronger axle.

d. IMHO the 31 spline is plenty strong for what we do & well above what we do. Again, NASCAR with 900 hp engines, 10" slicks & 3500# ... as well as Trans Am, etc ... run 31 spline axles. IMHO the 35 spline is good move when you're drag racing, with a drag prepared suspension & slicks.

e. The power ... 900 hp or otherwise ... is a factor. But the greater factor is loading ... and that comes from grip. On street tires, I don't see any need for anything above 31 spline.

f. All axles break ... eventually. The floater style rear end is a safety measure to prevent catastrophe from a wheel & axle flange ripping off a car at speed. Plus they're made with better materials & stronger.

g. If you go 35 spline, you can not do that with a Mod Lite. The ID of the opening at the end where the hub rides is not large enough for the larger 35 spline axle. So when we go 35 spline at the diff ... you need to go with Speedway's "Grand National" rear end. It is $100 more & runs bigger bearings in the hubs.

Hope that helps.

[Build-It-Break-it]

Thank you for the reply Ron,that does clear up a lot for me. I knew the 35 spline axle was large but wasnt sure it would work with the mod lite rear. Now I can make a game plan on parts needed when I call you.

Ahmad

[JKnight]

For a mostly-street application I really like Jay's approach for the low-maintenance, OEM engineering of the hubs and parts availability. I think it's worth the tradeoff of reduced strength given the street application.

[T_Raven]

Originally Posted by cjfirstgen

The Strange Pro HD aluminum center section is a much different animal then what is being referenced as an option for the OP. The Pro HD has a special channel to feed oil to the pinion bearing for cooling and the seal is retained by a snap ring so it is unable to push out. Furthermore with 3.25" pinion bearing or for 35 spline axles carries a lifetime warranty. No need for concern of this third member and its longevity. Again this is not your normal aluminum center section.

Good point. I had to look and compare the Pro HD to the light one. I think the Pro HD would be fine for what I'd do with it.