Need "crawler help" for a drag racing 4x4!

[Chevycrew]

The main problem I see is you are using 4wd on the street with a front locker.

I dont feel that the lowering or the angles of the CV's are causing concern.

The main thing i see is that when you are turning, while in 4wd on the street, you are causing the front cv's to "bind" and with the weight of your duramax the tires have enough traction to make the cv's the weak link.


My opinion, feel free to respond (everyone)

 

[Greg]

The main problem I see is you are using 4wd on the street with a front locker.

I dont feel that the lowering or the angles of the CV's are causing concern.

The main thing i see is that when you are turning, while in 4wd on the street, you are causing the front cv's to "bind" and with the weight of your duramax the tires have enough traction to make the cv's the weak link.


My opinion, feel free to respond (everyone)

That's quite logical, perhaps a tight limited slip would be best in the front axle, to prevent that bind & breakage.

 

[1993yj]

The main problem I see is you are using 4wd on the street with a front locker.

I dont feel that the lowering or the angles of the CV's are causing concern.

The main thing i see is that when you are turning, while in 4wd on the street, you are causing the front cv's to "bind" and with the weight of your duramax the tires have enough traction to make the cv's the weak link.


My opinion, feel free to respond (everyone)

I agree with this theory too. If it is a drag truck, maybe you could get manual hubs and just lock them for the race, and then unlock them when you need to steer it pack to the pits, etc. If you didn't want to get out of the vehicle every time there may be some selectable locker choices you could look at that you could engage and disengage from inside the vehicle. Don't know if they would be strong enough for your application, but just going straight and not turning would be minimal stress anyways I would think.

Although I think combining this idea with a solid axle would be my route if possible.

 

[waynehartwig]

I'm guessing he probably has the 9.25 IFS up front, if so, they do make an ARB for it. ...And I wouldn't have any issues running an ARB up front.

 

[Jinx]

in thinking about what is going on. I have to agree that the issue is probably with locker and the ifs.

too much power/traction on weak components.

With that beng said since this rig doesn't see rocks, I would have agree the ARB would be the way to go.

If team fred just read that I said something nice about ARB he would fall over.

one requirement on putting the ARB in, don't waste your money on there cheesy pump, upgrade from the start.

 

[Greg]

You'd pretty much have to unlock the ARB before turning, only use the locker when going straight down the quarter-mile, otherwise he'll have the same issues. I wonder what locker is currently in the front axle?

I think a limited slip is quite a viable option, if one is made for that application. I'm pretty sure that GMC Cyclones & Typhoons has limited slips in the front diff, even the highly-modified trucks hook up quite well from what I've seen. A limited slip is going to provide pretty good traction in the front axle, yet still have enough give not to break parts.

 

[jet_aj]

If you want to keep with the CV axle stuff, there is only one guy I would recommend for that stuff. It is the owner of RCV performance, Sean. www.rcvperformance.com

This guy really knows his stuff and builds axles for rock crawlers, custom vehicles and has been great to work with. He is helping us on a new mine vehicle we are designing and building.

If you really want to get crazy, you can have him build you a CV axle that uses the chevy inner and uses a Dana 60 outer with a disconnect hub, and convert to that knuckle. we have a CV joint from his D60 outer design and it is very sweet. he can build you whatever length you need. This is actually similar to what we are having him do, minus the chevy inner (we are actually using a Porsche inner but using the D60 CV joint outer)


But I do agree with the selectable locker for the front too, that could greatly reduce stresses while turning on pavement having the diff open

 

[StormRider]

Solid axle? Hmmm stronger and i prolly save some weight?

If i used hubs i would have to get out of the truck to lock it on the street, this thing is a monster on the streets i need 4 wheel to keep it off the curbs and the K-rails. In other words, I have traction issues.

Try throwing 600-1000lbs of sandbags in the back of the bed and run in 2wd. I've got a stock Dodge 2500 Diesel, and the rear traction sucks badly without any weight in the bed. Sandbags made a HUGE difference in traction, ride, and handling for me.

Also, what kind of locker are you running in the front?
4wd + Locker(non-limited slip) + pavement + heavy ass front end = broken front drive components.

 

[jsudar]

A couple of ideas for you:
Limiting straps on the front end are not a bad idea. A lot of drag racers use droop limiters in the front for more consistent launches. It helps with weight transfer and such. This may not solve your breakage issues, but may help in other areas.

I believe one of the Parriot guys from Area BFE had a rock racing buggy that had IFS. It seemed to work pretty well for him. D60 center section if I remember correctly and some burly drive axles.

One other idea is to check out Dutchman Motorsports. The make IFS center sections based on the Ford 9" and axles to go with them. Their website is supposed to be: dutchmanaxles.com, but doesn't appear to be working right now. A 9" nodular iron third member would be able to handle the power.