I've put together an upgrade package for the 3rd/4th gen Fbods - 3rd gens especially will break axles under the stress of RR duty, and I've cracked a 4thgen axle. Dragstrip use with slicks will break them, too.

These axles are direct replacement, use OEM wheel bearing and seals (not included) and fit any of the popular diffs (also not included).

Package includes:
1 Pair Yukon Replacement Series axles for 93-02 4th gen non TC cars or TCS cars
10 ARP 100-7708 2.5" long wheel studs, pressed in place
10 Dorman short, open bulge lugnuts with 19mm (same as 3/4") hex

Cost is (call, prices vary with application) plus shipping plus CA sales tax on orders shipped to CA address.

for the front, extra set of 10 ARP studs $32
for the front, extra set of 10 Dorman lugnuts $16

Extra long 3.25" ARP 100-7713 studs are available, set of 10 $72

questions/comments PM me or email me at ablaine (at) cruzio (dot) com or call me at 831 427-3296 evenings PST

Regards,
Alan Blaine
Blaine Fabrication

edit: Superior raised prices by $10 per axle, so I had to raise the package price from $185 to $205
edit: another price increase, to $215 for the package
edit: added pics of my cracked OEM axle - I found this after a rather spirited session at Sears Point. Glad it didn't let go there! The crack goes all the way around and thru the hub flange, and has started to twist off.
edit: the yearly price increase happened: new price for the package is $231 + changed to Dorman nuts
edit: price increase to $350
edit: price drop to $295
edit: revise pricing on ARP/Dorman
edit: change to Yukon, revise pricing

Alan,

Axles are on my list of TO DO's this winter. I was planning on doing the C-clip eliminator route that Al (CMC#5) did on his car earlier this year. Any likelihood you can come up with a kit to do something along those lines?

I'm also interested in a new set of axles this winter and would like to do the C-clip eliminator too.

Getting my driveshaft now, and then plan to do the T2R and axles all at once.

Dammit alan ... yer killing me here.

Are the studs the factory stud thread and pitch?

Mitch - Yes, the installed ARP studs (100-7708) are factory thread and pitch, but 2.5" long. Lugnuts are interchangeable with the fronts.

For another $14 I can include 10 more lugnuts for the front, and for another $28 can include 10 more ARP studs for the front.

For those that buy the axle upgrade and extra studs/nuts for the front hubs - ship me your front hubs and I'll press the studs in (straight ;-) ) for no extra labor charge, just return shipping.

If you're local and walk in the door with hubs/axles (off the car, of course) and buy the ARP studs and Gorilla nuts I'll press them in N/C.



On the full floater deal, I'm looking into it, but Al's estimate of $600 in parts for the whole setup looks pretty spot on, and the failures I've seen on RR cars have been of the shaft or hub outboard of the wheel bearing, not the spline end or Cclip flange. The reduction of end play on the full floater is what you would get for the big difference in cost vs just an axle upgrade.

Did that actually stop his pad knock back issue? I know I had it BAD in my old '98

What's the final Paypal price on those axles with studs and lugs. I already have a couple packages of those same studs on the shelf.

PM or e-mail me.

I am pretty sure he said it did......

If the full floater comes to fruition, I would be on it.

Cost with shipping to 76063 for 3rd gen, please.

Thanks!

UPS ground shipping is $35, so total is $220, PayPal to:

ablaine (at) cruzio (dot) com

Thank You !

Regards,
Alan Blaine
Blaine Fabrication
831 427-3296

Alan:

I'm interested - 1999 Z28

Rear axles/studs/lugnuts
Front studs/lugnuts
Extra lugnuts

I'll have to verify the stud length - I need the long ones.

Thanks

Alan knows the number, but for an FYI, the long (but not super long) ARP studs are 7708s. Alan talked me out of the 7713 (super long) studs and I'm glad. The 7708s stick out of the factory lug nuts even with a spacer.

Mike - The LS1 axles are showing 2wks ARO for delivery to me, and another couple of days for me to get them down to you after pressing the studs in. I have the 2.5" long ARP studs and Gorilla nuts in stock.

Here's the cost breakdown:

Axle package (2 Superior axles, 10 ARP studs, 10 Gorilla lugnuts) $185
set of 10 ARP studs $27
set of 10 Gorilla lugnuts $13
extra set of 20 Gorilla lugnuts $26

subtotal $251

Ca sales tax $20.08
UPS gnd shipping to Orange, CA $25

Grand total $296.08 PayPal to: ablaine (at) cruzio (dot) com

Thank You!
Regards,
Alan Blaine
Blaine Fabrication
831 427-3296

Yes - The ARP studs I stock and install in the axle package are the 7708's - they are 2.5" long which is plenty for any spacer less than 5/8" thick. Here's a pic of the 2.5" long studs with a 1/4" spacer on a GS wheel: There is .330" sticking out past the nut.





The ARP 7713 are 3.25" long - If the extra 3/4" is needed, I can get them, and press into the axles instead of the 7708's. They are about 2wks ARO, and are a lot more expensive. Your price is $30 per set of 5. Yes, almost twice as much as the 2.5" length.

Here's the axle upgrade package, these are 3rd gen:

difference between the 93-96 and 98-02 is the center hub that fits into the wheel, correct? so if i ordered the 98-02's to work w/ my 95, i could more easily use the 98-02 wheels, right?

Yes, wheel hub OD is smaller on the LS1 axles (Are the wheel hubs on the LS1 wheels smaller? I'm accustomed to opening up the ID of the C4 Corvette wheels to fit the LT1 axle hub but don't know if this is the case for a LS1 Fbod wheel onto LT1 axle).

Axle length is same, and splines are the same. I have the Superior LT1 axles in house, they do have the flange for the TCS reluctor option. I'll call Superior and ask if there are any other differences besides the wheel hub OD.

Regards,
Alan Blaine
Blaine Fabrication
831 427-3296

yes, 98 and up f-body wheels have to be opened up to be put on an 93-97 F-body. it seems to only be true for the rear though. never seen it needed for the front.

Well now I'm confused - I called Superior and the guy said that the LS1 axles were 1/2" longer than LT1 (and the published specs were incorrect) but I don't believe that is true - LS1 folks would be having extreme outer fender well issues if the cars had an inch wider track than the LT1 cars. I'll measure Mike P's when they get in, will be 7-10 days.

Regards,
Alan Blaine
Blaine Fabrication
831 427-3296

Here is a Superior LT1 axle next to an OEM. The TCS reluctor flange puts more meat right where one of my OEM axles cracked.

Alan ...

I would prefer the axles for a 98+ car in order to aleviate the wheel fitment issue. Is it too late to make that change?

Mitch - Nope, not quite too late - I'm placing the order later today, along with Mike's. I'll make yours the LS1 version.

Can I buy just the axles? I already have studs and a crap load of nuts..

to 78550?

Alan,

what was the answer on the LS1 vs LT1 axle length?

I need to put my name on the list, I've got an LT1 and shipping would be to 50219.

If the LS1 axles really are 1/2" wider it wouldn't hurt my feelings when running the Z06 rears, I could go without spacers, but not sure I would like what that would do when running the WS6 wheels with stickies.

Jared - The LS1 axles arrived yesterday, and they are the same length as the LT1, as I expected. So the only difference LT1 vs LS1 is the slightly larger OD of the hub on the LT1 part. If your Z06 wheels have already been clearanced to fit the LT1 axle hub then there would be no advantage in the LS1 axles. Your choice - price is the same.

Axle package $185 plus UPS gnd $45 = $230 PayPal to: ablaine (at) cruzio (dot) com

Thank you!
Regards,
Alan Blaine
Blaine Fabrication
831 427-3296





Nick - 3rd time's a charm! Yours will ship to you tomorrow




Chris - Yours shipped to you today.

Thank You!

Glenn - Yep, LS1 just have a smaller OD hub so fit 98-02 and Corvette wheels without clearancing them.

LT1 or LS1 Axle package $185 plus UPS gnd to central TX $39 = $224 PayPal to: ablaine (at) cruzio (dot) com

(Mitch paid less shipping 'cause I used the shipping weight of the 3rd gen axles to me to base my quote on - turns out, after adding the 1.7" longer 4th gen axles, and the studs and nuts that the UPS bill is a little higher. SO if you buy the package, Mitch owes you a beer, on me ;-) )

Thanks!
Regards,
Alan Blaine
Blaine Fabrication
831 427-3296

Glenn, send him $228 and I'll give you the $4 difference.

Gotta be fair.

Personally, I think Mitch ought to pay up in homebrew

BTW, are oversize or custom-fit C-clips available, and would that help at all with knockback?

I tried, but Glenn only drinks carbonated water ...

And the occasional 2 bottles of champaign......

i'm on hold for this. i just spent $450 on refreshing my bottom end and i'm a little tapped.

This is the only reference I've seen re custom Cclips: http://corner-carvers.com/forums/showpost....amp;postcount=5

It's likely that the axle makers offer them but I have not looked or called them.

Came in last night. Thanks!

Alan,

How much for a 94 LT1 set sent to Danville in 94526?

Time to rebuild this winter.

Thanks,
Randy

Randy - Axle package $185 + UPS Gnd shipping $20 + CA sales tax $15.26 = $220.26

PayPal to:
ablaine (at) cruzio (dot) com

Thanks!
Regards,
Alan Blaine
Blaine Fabrication
831 427-3296

Superior raised their prices by $10 per axle, so I updated the opening post of this thead. Superior/ARP/Gorilla package price is now $205 plus tax and shipping.

Alan,

For a 3rd gen fitment, do you happen to know the weight for the Superior axle?

Jeff

3rd gens are approx 36#/pr

Alan,

Correct me here but I thought the difference was 26 and 28 spline axels for the LT vs LS cars.

I'm going to be getting some here soon, do you have the EVO axels from them as well or they still working on them for LS cars?

Bret

Nope - LT1 and LS1 axles have the same spline count: 28. Other than a slightly larger wheel hub OD on the LT1 axles, they are interchangeable.

The EVO series axles are also 28spline, and the same alloy as replacement series. The only differences I see from Superior's ad copy is that the EVO series are packaged in a kit with bearings and SAE studs.

For most of the folks here, the OEM dia, 12mm x 2.5" long ARP studs are fine, and bearings can be sourced locally if needed

My supplier lists the EVO kit only for the LT1, which would fit in a LS1 axle but the LS1 wheels would need to be opened up.

or,

I can drill out LS1 replacement series axles and press in SAE ARP studs. Let me know if you'd like a quote.

Here is Superior's description of the Replacement vs EVO series:

REPLACEMENT SERIES

These High Quality replacement axle shafts feature the same Superior alloy used in our Evolution Series axle kits, along with computer controlled induction heat treating resulting in a stronger, more durable axle shaft. All our shafts use a cold-formed rolled spline process that produces an axle spline up to 35% stronger than cut splines! These are direct replacement axle shafts. No modifications needed.

For extreme duty applications, front axles, or complete kits with bearings, studs etc., check out our Evolution Series kits.

EVOLUTION SERIES

These kits are designed and engineered in-house to be the best axles on the market! We've listened to our customers, and improved on the factory designs. Each axle or axle kit solves a specific problem for your customer, and are packaged installation ready with studs, bearings and seals. Many feature larger splines for extreme duty applications, and dual bolt patterns for upgrading to larger studs.
All our shafts use a cold-formed rolled spline process that produces an axle spline up to 35% stronger than cut splines!
Copyright ©2007, Superior Axle & Gear.

90+ 3rd gens with the 10 bolt got 28 spline axles, and all 4th gens got 28 spline axles. The only cars with 26 splines were the early 3rd gens with the 10 bolt.

Alan, do you have a C-clip and/or replacement axle handy that you could measure? I should receive an 8.5 oversize (slightly thicker) C-clip assortment kit in a few days for comparison. At this point, I think the clips were made for an 8.5 10 bolt. I'm not too optimistic that they'll fit a 7.5 axle(Stan's probably right), but it would sure be handy if they turn out to be interchangeable.

And on that topic, are the Superior axles set up with any less play than stock? In other words, did they cut the slots any farther outboard than stock?

Alan,

Thanks for that. Looks like your kit will be fine for me. I'll source a axel housing a pick up a T2R here in the future and give you a ring for axels and studs.

Bret

Sean - I have a couple of OEM takeoff axles in the shop, I'll measure the grooves tonite. No Superior in stock, but I believe they are sized no differently than OEM. I installed a set at the shop and had to space the caliper brackets out .030" to get the PAB off the rotors.

Brett - Great! I keep the studs/nuts in stock, but not the axles - sometimes it takes a few weeks to get them in so get them ordered ahead of time.

Cool, this deal is still going on. Think I'm finally ready to order some axles. Can you recalculate price to 50219?

Jared - Axle package $205 + UPS Gnd shipping $42 = $247

PayPal to:
ablaine (at) cruzio (dot) com

Let me know what year your Fbod housing is when you order. Some of the axles are in stock at my dist, others are a week or two out.

Thanks!
Regards,
Alan Blaine
Blaine Fabrication
831 427-3296

Superior raised their prices again, but I do have one pair of LS1 (fits LT1 cars too) axles in stock at the old price of $205 for the package, plus shipping. After this set sells the price goes up to $215 for the package.

Might be nice to have a set in the trailer at MidOhio ;-)

Alan,

And anyone else who might have experience with this. What is the failure possilbility on the stock axles? This is the only thing on my car I didn't replace on my car when I built it, basically is this a luxury item or a must have? I am getting some other stuff from Alan, maybe I should get these as well.

Statistically by failures per mile driven, the probability is quite low, but given that we are on the high applied stress part of the curve, and the potential for a lot of collateral damage from axle failure and the resulting loss of control, it is a good item to replace periodically. Some failures have been right across the shaft at the wheel bearing seal, and others at the hub flange.

I've cracked a 4th gen axle, I'll take a pic tonite. I pulled it out mid season to do a diff upgrade and found the crack.

I've seen three 3rd gen axle failures on CMC cars: Julie Bergman, Dave Morin, and Nick Littleton. Dimensionally, the 3rd gen axles are no different than the 4th gen in the area of the failures, so it might be I've seen more 3rd gen failures because of the lighter weight of the cars, or age and time in high stress service.