Bent Axle ? / Crash Damage

[beeker]

Have finally got my jack and tools back from targa. Finally got the damaged car up on stands and the wheels off. See: viewtopic.php?t=51558&start=0

My question is, how strong is the axle housing ??

By the look of the below picture, the axle is bent. Makes sense considering the impact and split on the wheel (see bottom of pic). As you turn the axle the pads rub real bad on 1/3 of the rotor only.

The Question, would the housing also be bent ? LSD/Diff still apears to work ok, but time will tell there too.

The whiteline panhard bar looks a little deformed, and the upper trailing arms are currently sitting off angle.



Anyone done this type of impact damage ? Will it be axle only ?

For those with experience let me know yours thoughts.

[Mr Revhead]

straight edges on the housing would be my first job

[Rick]

straight edges on the housing would be my first job

they are not staight to start off with, they taper down abit, so not really a true test


The axle housings are strong but where never designed to withstand cars being landing on them, if the housing is bent then so will be the axle/s, might pay to remove the axles and check if they are still running true.

[nzae86]

Well when I was lucky enough to tip my ae86 end for end, one of it's landings was on the rear wheel which broke off . The axle would not turn with the brake rotor on , and yes the housing was bent as well . Unless to you have a lathe big enough to put the housing in and spin it , you will only be guessing if it is ok.
Sounds like your panard rod is a bit shorter from being bent , that will in turn make your trailing arms look no longer straight to the body shell .

[beeker]

Well when I was lucky enough to tip my ae86 end for end, one of it's landings was on the rear wheel which broke off . The axle would not turn with the brake rotor on , and yes the housing was bent as well . Unless to you have a lathe big enough to put the housing in and spin it , you will only be guessing if it is ok.
Sounds like your panard rod is a bit shorter from being bent , that will in turn make your trailing arms look no longer straight to the body shell .

Side topic, are the pre and post facelift housings the same ?

Obviously the axles and LSD are.

[Mr Revhead]

a long straight edge placed along it and then measure it at points

[JamesM]

i thought the axles and lsd were different between the facelift and nonfacelift.. facelift acles are slightly bigger in diameter.. no?
why not just buy one of the t series rear ends of trademe that are going? might be cheaper than replacing all the bits separatly?

[Mr Revhead]

yes they are different

[edwagon]

I used to be involved with racing stockcars (the ones that hit) and its amazing what gets wrecked!
Axle housings can bend like a chip with enough impact, and it looks like thats exactly whats happened there. Often the halfshafts etc will be fine, but if your's is hitting the caliper mount on the way around then perhaps the halfshaft is bent too.

with the axle out of the car, its easy enougth to use a straightedge on the backingplate mount surfaces on each side, and then measure the 'toe' and 'camber' of the axle.