More 2-Car Garage Crawler Episodes
Xtreme 4x4 Builds
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Join the PowerNation Email NewsletterParts Used In This Episode
Artec Industries
Dana 60 Chevy Front Ram Mount and Truss
Crane Hi Clearance
GM 14 Bolt 10.5" Diff Cover Chromoly Steel
Crane Hi Clearance
Revolution 14 seal system
Hudlow Axle
Custom Axle Shafts
The Industrial Depot
Industrial Depot - Fasteners, Hardware, and Shop Supplies
Episode Transcript
(ANNOUNCER)>> DOESN'T
SOMEBODY MAKE AN AXLE THAT'S STRONG AND AFFORDABLE? TODAY ON XTREME 4X4
THAT SOMEBODY IS YOU. WE'LL TAKE THE BEST PIECES
OF TWO JUNKYARD HOUSINGS AND COMBINE THEM INTO A
CUSTOM CREATION YOU CAN'T GET FROM THE FACTORY. ALL FOR A LOT LESS
MONEY THAN YOU'D THINK. PLUS A SHOP THAT
BUILDS DRIVELINES FOR ALL KINDS OF RIDES.
(IAN)>> WELCOME TO XTREME 4X4 AND THE START OF ANOTHER YEAR FILLED WITH SOME SERIOUSLY HARDCORE OFF ROAD HOW TO. NOW WE'VE PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A PRETTY COOL SEASON FOR YOU GUYS. WE'VE GOT A PROJECT LEFT OVER FROM LAST YEAR, AND ONCE WE FINISH UP THIS F-150, WE'LL TAKE IT OUT, FIND OUT DID WE REALLY BUILD A TRUCK THAT CAN OUTPERFORM A FORD RAPTOR FOR HALF THE MONEY. NOW WE'RE NOT JUST GONNA STAY HERE IN THE SHOP. WE'RE GONNA COME OUT AND SEE WHERE YOU GUYS GO WHEELING. FROM RECREATIONAL WHEELING TO HARDCORE OFF ROAD RACING,
WE'LL GO COAST TO COAST AND HAVE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE WILDEST FOUR WHEELING YOU'LL EVER SEE.
WE'RE EVEN GONNA BRING BACK A PROJECT THAT SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT WE'D FORGOTTEN ABOUT, OUR DIESEL POWERED CURVY BUGGY. NOW HONESTLY THIS RIG'S BEEN SITTING OUT IN THE WAREHOUSE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN STUCK ON ONE PART OF THIS PROJECT. I'LL HAVE FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, SO
IT'S BACK INTO THE SHOP TO BEGIN BUILDING ONE LAST TIME.
NOW FOR THOSE OF YOU GUYS AT HOME WHO ARE STUCK ON PART OF YOUR PROJECT, WELL I'VE GOT SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU, WE'RE COMING TO HELP. THIS YEAR WE ARE BRINGING THE SHOP TO YOU. WE FILLED OUR VAN WITH ALL THE TOOLS, PARTS, AND KNOW HOW FROM THE POWERBLOCK AND PUT IT ON THE ROAD.
ROLLING DOWN THE HIGHWAYS AND BACK ROADS,
COMING TO YOUR HOUSE. WE SCOURED THE EMAILS AND HEARD WHAT YOU WANT. JUST A LITTLE HELP GETTING YOUR PROJECT BACK ON TRACK, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO. WE'LL COME TO YOUR GARAGE, YOUR DRIVEWAY, TO HELP YOU GET PAST THAT ONE ITEM THAT'S GOT YOU STUCK. WE'LL SHARE OUR SKILLS WITH YOU FOR THE DAY, LEND YOU A HELPING HAND, ALL TO GET YOU BACK ON TRACK AND ONE STEP CLOSER TO GETTING YOUR RIG FINISHED. WELL WE'RE GONNA KICK THINGS OFF RIGHT HERE IN OUR SMALL TWO CAR GARAGE SPACE, THE PART OF OUR SHOP WHERE WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER OUR TWO CAR GARAGE CRAWLER USING ONLY A WELDER AND A GRINDER. NOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER, THIS WHOLE CHASSIS SHOWED UP HERE AT THE XTREME SHOP IN A BOX THAT WAS ONLY FOUR FEET BY FOUR FEET. WITH LASER NOTCHED TUBES AND A PRETTY COOL SET OF
INSTRUCTIONS, WE WORKED WITH THE INVENTOR OF THIS CHASSIS,
DREW BURLS FROM GOAT BUILT, TO PUT TOGETHER THEIR FIRST FOUR SEATER IBEX CHASSIS. NOW WE'RE NO STRANGER TO BUILDING CUSTOM AXLES IN THE XTREME SHOP, AND YES, YOU CAN BUILD A CUSTOM AXLE IN A SMALL TWO CAR GARAGE JUST USING A GRINDER AND A WELDER. NOW THE CUSTOM SETUP THAT WE WANT TO BUILD MEANS THAT WE
NEEDED TO START WITH TWO DONOR AXLES. I'M SURE YOU'RE WONDERING, ISN'T THAT KINDA SILLY TO SPEND THE MONEY ON TWO AXLES TO JUST END UP WITH ONE GOOD ONE? WELL ACTUALLY IT'S CHEAPER THIS WAY. IF YOU REMEMBER, WE PICKED UP THIS FULL FLOAT 14 BOLT BY PULLING OUT OF THE BACK OF A CHEVY ONE TON PICK UP AT OUR LOCAL EXPRESS PULL AND SAVE YARD. THEN WE STOPPED OVER NEXT DOOR AND BOUGHT THIS FORD DANA 50 FRONT AXLE FROM THEIR FULL SERVICE SALVAGE YARD. NOW THE REASON IT'S CHEAPER IS BECAUSE THESE TWO AXLES ARE ACTUALLY NOT THAT EXPENSIVE TO BUY. WE ONLY PAID $80 BUCKS FOR THE 14 BOLT AND THIS FORD DANA 50 WAS ONLY $200 DOLLARS. SO FOR $280 DOLLARS WE HAVE THE STARTING OF OUR CUSTOM AXLE. IF YOU WANT TO GET A GOOD, BEEFY FRONT AXLE RIGHT OUT OF A JUNKYARD, YOU'D PROBABLY BE LOOKING FOR A GOOD DANA 60. VERY SOUGHT AFTER AXLE FOR HARDCORE OFF ROADING. THE PROBLEM IS THAT AXLE IS GONNA COST YOU OVER $1,000 DOLLARS BEFORE YOU EVEN START ADDING ANY AFTERMARKET PARTS. THIS WAY WE'RE GONNA END UP WITH A GOOD CUSTOM AXLE THAT CAN EASILY HANDLE THE ABUSE OF SOME HARDCORE OFF ROADING.
WE DON'T JUST CHOOSE THESE AXLES BECAUSE OF THEIR PRICE. WE CHOOSE THEM BECAUSE EACH ONE HAS SOME INHERENT FEATURES THAT WHEN COMBINED, MAKE IT AN EXCELLENT AXLE FOR OUR BUGGY. NOW WE'VE SHOWN YOU THE INSIDE OF CORPORATE 14 BOLTS BEFORE AND EXPLAINED WHAT MAKES THEM SO STRONG. THE MASSIVE 10 AND A HALF INCH RING GEAR AND THE THREADED SIDE ADJUSTERS THAT ALLOW FOR PRECISE GEAR TOOTH SETUP. NOT TO MENTION THE THREE BEARING PINION SUPPORT THAT
WILL PREVENT ANY RING GEAR DEFLECTION. NOW TO TURN IT INTO A STEERING AXLE, THAT'S WHERE THE 50 COMES IN. THE OUTER KNUCKLE IS VERY SIMILAR IN DESIGN TO A DANA 60, BIG, BEEFY, AND STRONG, WITH A LARGE UJOINT IN IT. BUT BECAUSE IT COMES OFF OF A MODERN THREE QUARTER TON, ONE TON TRUCK, IT HAS A REALLY GOOD BRAKE PACKAGE. BIG LARGE ROTOR WITH LOTS OF SURFACE AREA AND A TWO PISTON CALIPER THAT WILL REALLY GIVE US GOOD BRAKING, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE GONNA BE STOPPING A BUGGY THAT MAY WEIGH A THIRD AS MUCH AS THE TRUCK THAT THAT AXLE CAME OUT FROM UNDERNEATH.
BUT I'M SURE YOU'RE WONDERING, WHY NOT JUST USE THE DANA 50 RIGHT OUT OF THE JUNKYARD? WELL IT HAS SOME INHERENT PROBLEMS. FROM 1999 RIGHT AROUND 2002 FORD INSTALLED THE DANA 50 AXLE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THEIR SUPER DUTY LINE OF PICK UPS. THEY'RE EASY TO INDENTIFY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LEAF SPRING PAD CAST INTO THE CENTER SECTION. NOW WHEN YOU THINK OF A SUPER DUTY, YOU THINK OF A BIG TOUGH TRUCK, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK INSIDE THIS AXLE YOU SEE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY. FORD INSTALLED A RELATIVELY SMALL RING AND PINION GEAR, ALMOST THE SAME SIZE OF A DANA 44. AND AS I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE FIGURED OUT BY NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO OFF ROAD, A SMALL RING AND A SMALL PINION, WELL THAT'S GONNA BE ONE OF YOUR FIRST FAILURE POINTS WHEN YOU ABUSE THAT AXLE OFF ROAD. BUT THE REAL PROBLEM WITH THE 50 IS IN THE SHAFTS. SURE THEY LOOK BIG AND BEEFY IN THE TUBE, BUT WHERE THEY ARE MACHINED TO FIT INSIDE THAT SMALLER DANA 50 CARRIER, THIS CREATES WHAT'S CALLED A NECK DOWN AREA. NOW WHEN YOU PUT THAT AXLE UNDER ANY TYPE OF LOAD OFF ROAD AND DEFLECT IT OR TWIST IT, THAT NECK DOWN AREA CREATES A STRESS POINT, AND THAT IS WHERE THAT SHAFT IS GOING TO BREAK ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TIME. SO THE QUESTION IS, AFTER WE SCAB OUR OUTERS OFF OF THIS DANA 50, IS ANY OF IT WORTH ANYTHING? WELL, THIS CENTER SECTION, YOU KNOW, IT WEIGHS A FEW PRETTY POUNDS. WE CAN CARRY THAT BACK TO THE SCRAP YARD. MAYBE THEY'LL GIVE US $100 BUCKS FOR IT.
(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, STRONG AND STYLISH PROTECTION FOR OUR FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY, AND HAND CRAFTED AXLE SHAFTS FOR OUR CRAWLER.
(IAN)>> WE'RE BACK ON XTREME IN THE MIDDLE OF BUILDING OUR CUSTOM AXLES FOR OUR TWO CAR GARAGE CRAWLER. THERE WE GO. NOW ON THE SHORT SIDE OF OUR CUSTOM FRONT 14 BOLT WE'RE DOING THINGS VERY SIMILAR TO HOW YOU'VE SEEN US
DO THEM IN THE PAST. CLEANED OUT ALL THE REMAINING AXLE TUBE FROM INSIDE THIS DANA 50 INNERC, CUT THE 14 BOLT AXLE TUBE TO THE LENGTH THAT WE WANT, AND ONCE WE HAVE EVERYTHING SET UP CORRECTLY WE'LL WELD THIS IN PLACE AND THEN THIS HALF OF THE AXLE IS FINISHED.
BUT WE HAVE A PROBLEM ON THE LONG SIDE TUBE. THERE WASN'T ENOUGH AXLE TUBE LEFT OVER FROM OUR DONOR 14 BOLT TO BUILD THIS AXLE TO THE WIDTH THAT WE WANTED, 67 INCHES FROM WHEEL MOUNT TO WHEEL MOUNT, WHICH IS FULL WIDTH. NOW ONE OPTION WOULD BE TO COMPLETELY REMOVE ALL THE LEFTOVER 14 BOLT AXLE TUBE, DRILL OUT THE SPOT WELDS ON THE CENTER SECTION, PRESS THE OLD AXLE TUBE OUT, GET A NEW AXLE TUBE MACHINED, AND PRESS IT BACK INTO THE HOUSING. BUT THAT IS A LOT OF WORK AND CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN TACKLE IF YOU'RE JUST WORKING IN A SMALL TWO CAR GARAGE. CHANCES ARE YOU'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. WE'VE LEFT A GOOD CHUNK OF THE AXLE TUBE FROM OUR DONOR 14 BOLT WELDED TO THE INNERC. WE DID THE MATH ON THE WIDTH OF THIS AXLE AND FIGURED OUT HOW LONG THIS TUBE NEEDS TO BE TOTAL LENGTH. THEN TRIMMED THE 14 BOLT AND THE DANA 50, SO WHEN COMBINED IT GIVES US THE LENGTH OF TUBE THAT WE WANT. WE WILL END UP WITH A BUTT JOINT RIGHT HERE IN THE CENTER OF THAT TUBE. NOW WE'RE GONNA ADD A SLUG TO THAT BUTT JOINT. THAT WILL NOT ONLY HELP ALIGN BOTH THESE AXLE TUBES, BUT WILL ALSO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA STRENGTH AT THIS JOINT. NOW YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP WITH JUST A SLUG.
WHEN WE'RE DONE, WE'RE GONNA BUILD A COMPLETE AXLE TRUSS. NOW THAT WILL BASICALLY LOCK THIS ENTIRE TUBE ASSEMBLY TOGETHER AND CARRY THE LOAD OVER THE CENTER SECTION, DOWN TO THE OTHER TUBE, STRENGTHENING THE ENTIRE AXLE AS AN ASSEMBLY. WE DO HAVE TO WELD THIS JOINT RIGHT HERE, AND BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH THICK WELD AXLE TUBING WE NEED TO WELD IT A VERY SPECIFIC WAY, AND IT STARTS BY GRINDING WHAT'S CALLED A BEVEL. IT STARTS BY GRINDING A 45 DEGREE LIP ON THE END OF
BOTH OF OUR AXLE TUBES. THEN ONCE THE SLUG IS SLID INTO PLACE AND THE TWO TUBES MEET, WE NOW HAVE A TROUGH FOR THE WELDS TO LAY IN. WE'LL START WITH A SMALL ROOT WELD, OVERLAP EACH SIDE WITH TWO SIDE WELDS, THEN WE'LL FINISH IT OFF WITH ONE LARGE, HIGH AMP WELD THAT COVERS BOTH AXLE TUBES. SO FOR RIGHT AROUND $300 DOLLARS WE NOW HAVE A 100 PERCENT CUSTOM FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY THAT IS ARGUABLY STRONGER AND DEFINITELY CHEAPER THAN A DANA 60 VERSION OF THIS EXACT SAME SETUP. NOW ONE THING WE HAVE TO DO NOW IS GET SOME
CUSTOM SHAFTS BUILT. SEE THE 14 BOLT WAS NEVER OFFERED AS A FRONT STEERING AXLE. SO THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE GOING TO FIND AN OFF THE SHELF SHAFT THAT'S GONNA SLIDE INTO THIS NEW CUSTOM HOUSING. NOW THE FIRST STEP TO BUILDING THOSE SHAFTS IS TO MEASURE FOR THEM, AND ONE WAY I'VE FOUND TO MEASURE FOR THESE SHAFTS THAT'S A LOT EASIER IS TO SIMPLY USE AN OLD REAR SHAFT. THIS IS A LONG SIDE SHAFT OUT OF ANOTHER 14 BOLT I'VE GOT LAYING AROUND THE SHOP FOR THE BACK OF THIS PROJECT. I'M SIMPLY GONNA SLIDE IT INTO THE HOUSING AND ENGAGE THE SPIDER GEARS. ONCE I HAVE IT AT THE CORRECT DEPTH, I CAN THEN GO AHEAD AND MARK THE LOCATION OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THAT WILL BE THE CENTER LINE OF THE UJOINT FOR OUR FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY. ONCE I MARK THIS SIDE AND THE SHORT SIDE, SIMPLY PULL A TAPE DOWN THIS SHAFT, RECORD THOSE MEASUREMENTS, AND TAKE THOSE TO OUR AXLE BUILDER.
(ANNOUNCER)>> THE LAST TIME WE HAD THIS MUCH FUN ON ASPHALT WAS UM, NEVER, STICK AROUND!
(IAN)>> HUDLOW AXLE SPECIALIZES IN UNIQUE AND CUSTOM DRIVELINE SOLUTIONS, AND THEY ARE THE GO TO GUYS WHEN IT COMES TO SPLINING CUSTOM AXLE SHAFTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FOR A 14 BOLT.
(STEVE)>> WE DO A LOT OF RING AND PINION SETUPS, CUSTOM AXLES, NARROWED REAR ENDS FOR A LOT OF HOT RODS AND A LOT OF FOUR WHEEL DRIVE APPLICATIONS. BUILD A LOT OF DRIVESHAFTS, STEEL AND ALUMINUM, CHROMOLY RACE CAR SHAFTS AND OFF ROAD SHAFTS.
(IAN)>> WHEN STEVE FOUNDED HIS SHOP, HE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A DEMAND FOR A PLACE THAT CATERED TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE LIKE HIM, PEOPLE WHOSE AUTOMOTIVE IMAGINATIONS RUN WILD.
(STEVE)>> HAD SOME CRAZY IDEAS TO BUILD SOME RADICAL TOYS AND WE JUST SET DOWN AND PUT PEN TO PAPER AND DID IT.
(IAN)>> THIS TOY HAD ITS FOUNDATION IN STEVE'S CHILDHOOD, SITTING IN A SCHOOL DESK DAY DREAMING.
(STEVE)>> I'D DRAW TANKS ON NOTEBOOK PAPER WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN STUDYING. I ALWAYS JUST HAD A FASCINATION WITH TRACK STYLE VEHICLES. AND THEN AFTER DOING ALL THESE ROCK CRAWLERS, AND BUGGIES, AND HOT RODS AND STUFF, I JUST THOUGH THIS WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
(IAN)>> THE TANK, LIKE ALL OF STEVE'S TOYS, WAS ORIGINALLY
DESIGNED TO TEST THE STRENGTH OF DIFFERENT DRIVE LINE COMPONENTS IN AN ABUSIVE VEHICLE. BUT THIS THREE AND A HALF TALL BEAST, IT WAS BUILT JUST FOR FUN.
(STEVE)>> I WANTED TO BUILD SOMETHING REALLY LIGHTWEIGHT, SOMETHING REALLY POWERFUL AND FAST, LIKE A DRIFTER TYPE CAR BUT A RAT ROD TOO. AND FOUND OUT THAT DOING A BUG WAS ONE OF THE MORE CHALLENGING CHOPS. SO IT WAS INTRIGUING TO US. SO WE WANTED THE CHALLENGE AND THAT'S WHAT WE COME UP WITH.
(IAN)>> WHEN HE'S NOT DREAMING UP HIS OWN CREATIONS, HE'S PROVIDING AXLES AND DRIVELINES FOR OTHERS
ONE OF A KIND RIDES.
(STEVE)>> IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE CREATIVE THEIRSELVES, AND I'M JUST USED AS A TOOL TO HELP THEM PUT THOSE PRODUCTS TOGETHER FOR THEIR OWN PROJECTS. YOU ALWAYS TRYING TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE, MAKE A BETTER PRODUCT. THAT WAY WHEN YOU GUYS ARE OUT THERE HAMMERING ON THIS STUFF, IT'D BE JUST ONE LESS THING YOU GUYS HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.
(IAN)>> THE FIRST STEP TO BUILDING OUR CUSTOM AXLES IS TO CUT EACH SHAFT TO LENGTH AND THEN MACHINE THEM IN A LATHE TO THE CORRECT OUTSIDE DIAMETER. THEN EACH SHAFT IS PLACED INTO A DEDICATED SPLINING JIG TO CUT THE 14 BOLT, 30 SPLINE TOOTH COUNT. AND EACH IS FINISHED OFF BY TEST FITTING A SIDE GEAR ONTO THE SHAFT. BUT BEFORE WE HEAD HOME WITH OUR CUSTOM SHAFT, THERE WAS ONE MORE THING WE HAD TO DO. IT'S GET A RIDE IN THIS WICKED SLAMMED VW.
THAT'S SMILE'S GONNA STAY ON MY FACE FOR A WHILE!
( )>> WHAT ARE YOU SWEATING FOR?
(IAN)>> IT'S AWESOME, THAT WAS FUN!
(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, GUTS AND GROUND CLEARANCE FOR OUR 14 BOLT.
(IAN)>> NOW SO FAR WE'VE SHOWN YOU HOW TO PUT TOGETHER THIS CUSTOM FRONT HOUSING USING JUNKYARD PARTS. AND NOW YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO TO GET YOUR AXLES SPLINED FOR A CUSTOM APPLICATION LIKE THIS. BUT I'M SURE SOME OF YOU GUYS ARE WONDERING, HOW ARE WE GONNA SEAL THIS FRONT AXLE HOUSING? BASICALLY KEEP THE OIL FROM POURING OUT EITHER AXLE TUBE ONCE IT'S FILLED UP. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW ARE WE GONNA DEAL WITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WITH A 14 BOLT, AND THAT IS GROUND CLEARANCE? WELL BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE CAN SOLVE BOTH THOSE PROBLEMS
WITH A COUPLE OF PARTS FROM THE SAME PLACE.
ON A REAR AXLE, THE FLUID IS ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE CENTER SECTION TO TRAVEL DOWN THE TUBES AND LUBRICATE THE WHEEL BEARINGS.
ON THE FRONT AXLE WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. NOW A COMPANY THAT'S THOROUGHLY EMBRACED THE WORLD OF 14 BOLT FRONT AXLES HAS BEEN CRANE HIGH CLEARANCE. NOW THEY'VE RECENTLY COME OUT WITH THEIR CRANE REVOLUTION SERIES THREADED SIDE ADJUSTERS. THEY ACCEPT THE FACTORY DANA 60 AXLE SEAL AND WILL REPLACE THE SIDE ADJUSTERS INSIDE OUR HOUSING. TO SOLVE OUR GROUND CLEARANCE PROBLEM WE'RE GONNA USE THE
CRANE HIGH CLEARANCE 13 BOLT/14 BOLT COVER. WE SIMPLY BOLT IT ON TO THE AXLE.
THEN WE CAN SHAVE OFF THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE HOUSING PICKING UP ALMOST AN EXTRA INCH OF GROUND CLEARANCE.
NOW WE ALREADY TOLD YOU GUYS, IF YOU'RE GONNA SLUG AN AXLE TUBE, YOU NEED TO ADD AXLE TRUSS FOR STRENGTH. NOW YEAH, YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND BUILD ONE YOURSELF, BUT IN
A SMALL TWO CAR GARAGE THAT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT OF TIME. A BETTER OPTION IS TO GET ONE OF THESE
PREMADE TRUSS ASSEMBLIES. NOW THIS ONE IS FROM RTECH INDUSTRIES. 100 PERCENT LASER CUT AND CNC BENT USING QUARTER AND THREEEIGHTHS STEEL. NOW I'LL BASICALLY LOCK THE ENTIRE AXLE TOGETHER AND PREVENT THE HOUSING FROM BENDING. NOW WE ADDED ONE ADDITIONAL TRUSS TO THIS AXLE AS WELL. THIS FRONT SKID PLATE FEATURE WILL ACT NOT ONLY AS A FRONT TRUSS TYING THE FRONT OF THE AXLE TUBES TOGETHER, IT ALSO GIVES US A POSITION TO MOUNT OUR HYDRAULIC STEERING DOUBLE ENDED RAM AND PROTECT IT WHEN WE'RE ON THE TRAIL. SO ONCE WE HAVE THIS FULLY WELDED IN PLACE, WHAT WE'VE DONE TODAY, WE'VE TAKEN AN AXLE THAT NOBODY WANTS AND AN AXLE THAT'S NOT THAT POPULAR AND BUILT A 100 PERCENT CUSTOM AND BOMB PROOF FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY.
Show Full Transcript
(IAN)>> WELCOME TO XTREME 4X4 AND THE START OF ANOTHER YEAR FILLED WITH SOME SERIOUSLY HARDCORE OFF ROAD HOW TO. NOW WE'VE PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A PRETTY COOL SEASON FOR YOU GUYS. WE'VE GOT A PROJECT LEFT OVER FROM LAST YEAR, AND ONCE WE FINISH UP THIS F-150, WE'LL TAKE IT OUT, FIND OUT DID WE REALLY BUILD A TRUCK THAT CAN OUTPERFORM A FORD RAPTOR FOR HALF THE MONEY. NOW WE'RE NOT JUST GONNA STAY HERE IN THE SHOP. WE'RE GONNA COME OUT AND SEE WHERE YOU GUYS GO WHEELING. FROM RECREATIONAL WHEELING TO HARDCORE OFF ROAD RACING,
WE'LL GO COAST TO COAST AND HAVE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE WILDEST FOUR WHEELING YOU'LL EVER SEE.
WE'RE EVEN GONNA BRING BACK A PROJECT THAT SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE THOUGHT WE'D FORGOTTEN ABOUT, OUR DIESEL POWERED CURVY BUGGY. NOW HONESTLY THIS RIG'S BEEN SITTING OUT IN THE WAREHOUSE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN STUCK ON ONE PART OF THIS PROJECT. I'LL HAVE FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, SO
IT'S BACK INTO THE SHOP TO BEGIN BUILDING ONE LAST TIME.
NOW FOR THOSE OF YOU GUYS AT HOME WHO ARE STUCK ON PART OF YOUR PROJECT, WELL I'VE GOT SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU, WE'RE COMING TO HELP. THIS YEAR WE ARE BRINGING THE SHOP TO YOU. WE FILLED OUR VAN WITH ALL THE TOOLS, PARTS, AND KNOW HOW FROM THE POWERBLOCK AND PUT IT ON THE ROAD.
ROLLING DOWN THE HIGHWAYS AND BACK ROADS,
COMING TO YOUR HOUSE. WE SCOURED THE EMAILS AND HEARD WHAT YOU WANT. JUST A LITTLE HELP GETTING YOUR PROJECT BACK ON TRACK, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO. WE'LL COME TO YOUR GARAGE, YOUR DRIVEWAY, TO HELP YOU GET PAST THAT ONE ITEM THAT'S GOT YOU STUCK. WE'LL SHARE OUR SKILLS WITH YOU FOR THE DAY, LEND YOU A HELPING HAND, ALL TO GET YOU BACK ON TRACK AND ONE STEP CLOSER TO GETTING YOUR RIG FINISHED. WELL WE'RE GONNA KICK THINGS OFF RIGHT HERE IN OUR SMALL TWO CAR GARAGE SPACE, THE PART OF OUR SHOP WHERE WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER OUR TWO CAR GARAGE CRAWLER USING ONLY A WELDER AND A GRINDER. NOW IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER, THIS WHOLE CHASSIS SHOWED UP HERE AT THE XTREME SHOP IN A BOX THAT WAS ONLY FOUR FEET BY FOUR FEET. WITH LASER NOTCHED TUBES AND A PRETTY COOL SET OF
INSTRUCTIONS, WE WORKED WITH THE INVENTOR OF THIS CHASSIS,
DREW BURLS FROM GOAT BUILT, TO PUT TOGETHER THEIR FIRST FOUR SEATER IBEX CHASSIS. NOW WE'RE NO STRANGER TO BUILDING CUSTOM AXLES IN THE XTREME SHOP, AND YES, YOU CAN BUILD A CUSTOM AXLE IN A SMALL TWO CAR GARAGE JUST USING A GRINDER AND A WELDER. NOW THE CUSTOM SETUP THAT WE WANT TO BUILD MEANS THAT WE
NEEDED TO START WITH TWO DONOR AXLES. I'M SURE YOU'RE WONDERING, ISN'T THAT KINDA SILLY TO SPEND THE MONEY ON TWO AXLES TO JUST END UP WITH ONE GOOD ONE? WELL ACTUALLY IT'S CHEAPER THIS WAY. IF YOU REMEMBER, WE PICKED UP THIS FULL FLOAT 14 BOLT BY PULLING OUT OF THE BACK OF A CHEVY ONE TON PICK UP AT OUR LOCAL EXPRESS PULL AND SAVE YARD. THEN WE STOPPED OVER NEXT DOOR AND BOUGHT THIS FORD DANA 50 FRONT AXLE FROM THEIR FULL SERVICE SALVAGE YARD. NOW THE REASON IT'S CHEAPER IS BECAUSE THESE TWO AXLES ARE ACTUALLY NOT THAT EXPENSIVE TO BUY. WE ONLY PAID $80 BUCKS FOR THE 14 BOLT AND THIS FORD DANA 50 WAS ONLY $200 DOLLARS. SO FOR $280 DOLLARS WE HAVE THE STARTING OF OUR CUSTOM AXLE. IF YOU WANT TO GET A GOOD, BEEFY FRONT AXLE RIGHT OUT OF A JUNKYARD, YOU'D PROBABLY BE LOOKING FOR A GOOD DANA 60. VERY SOUGHT AFTER AXLE FOR HARDCORE OFF ROADING. THE PROBLEM IS THAT AXLE IS GONNA COST YOU OVER $1,000 DOLLARS BEFORE YOU EVEN START ADDING ANY AFTERMARKET PARTS. THIS WAY WE'RE GONNA END UP WITH A GOOD CUSTOM AXLE THAT CAN EASILY HANDLE THE ABUSE OF SOME HARDCORE OFF ROADING.
WE DON'T JUST CHOOSE THESE AXLES BECAUSE OF THEIR PRICE. WE CHOOSE THEM BECAUSE EACH ONE HAS SOME INHERENT FEATURES THAT WHEN COMBINED, MAKE IT AN EXCELLENT AXLE FOR OUR BUGGY. NOW WE'VE SHOWN YOU THE INSIDE OF CORPORATE 14 BOLTS BEFORE AND EXPLAINED WHAT MAKES THEM SO STRONG. THE MASSIVE 10 AND A HALF INCH RING GEAR AND THE THREADED SIDE ADJUSTERS THAT ALLOW FOR PRECISE GEAR TOOTH SETUP. NOT TO MENTION THE THREE BEARING PINION SUPPORT THAT
WILL PREVENT ANY RING GEAR DEFLECTION. NOW TO TURN IT INTO A STEERING AXLE, THAT'S WHERE THE 50 COMES IN. THE OUTER KNUCKLE IS VERY SIMILAR IN DESIGN TO A DANA 60, BIG, BEEFY, AND STRONG, WITH A LARGE UJOINT IN IT. BUT BECAUSE IT COMES OFF OF A MODERN THREE QUARTER TON, ONE TON TRUCK, IT HAS A REALLY GOOD BRAKE PACKAGE. BIG LARGE ROTOR WITH LOTS OF SURFACE AREA AND A TWO PISTON CALIPER THAT WILL REALLY GIVE US GOOD BRAKING, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE GONNA BE STOPPING A BUGGY THAT MAY WEIGH A THIRD AS MUCH AS THE TRUCK THAT THAT AXLE CAME OUT FROM UNDERNEATH.
BUT I'M SURE YOU'RE WONDERING, WHY NOT JUST USE THE DANA 50 RIGHT OUT OF THE JUNKYARD? WELL IT HAS SOME INHERENT PROBLEMS. FROM 1999 RIGHT AROUND 2002 FORD INSTALLED THE DANA 50 AXLE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THEIR SUPER DUTY LINE OF PICK UPS. THEY'RE EASY TO INDENTIFY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LEAF SPRING PAD CAST INTO THE CENTER SECTION. NOW WHEN YOU THINK OF A SUPER DUTY, YOU THINK OF A BIG TOUGH TRUCK, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK INSIDE THIS AXLE YOU SEE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY. FORD INSTALLED A RELATIVELY SMALL RING AND PINION GEAR, ALMOST THE SAME SIZE OF A DANA 44. AND AS I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE FIGURED OUT BY NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO OFF ROAD, A SMALL RING AND A SMALL PINION, WELL THAT'S GONNA BE ONE OF YOUR FIRST FAILURE POINTS WHEN YOU ABUSE THAT AXLE OFF ROAD. BUT THE REAL PROBLEM WITH THE 50 IS IN THE SHAFTS. SURE THEY LOOK BIG AND BEEFY IN THE TUBE, BUT WHERE THEY ARE MACHINED TO FIT INSIDE THAT SMALLER DANA 50 CARRIER, THIS CREATES WHAT'S CALLED A NECK DOWN AREA. NOW WHEN YOU PUT THAT AXLE UNDER ANY TYPE OF LOAD OFF ROAD AND DEFLECT IT OR TWIST IT, THAT NECK DOWN AREA CREATES A STRESS POINT, AND THAT IS WHERE THAT SHAFT IS GOING TO BREAK ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TIME. SO THE QUESTION IS, AFTER WE SCAB OUR OUTERS OFF OF THIS DANA 50, IS ANY OF IT WORTH ANYTHING? WELL, THIS CENTER SECTION, YOU KNOW, IT WEIGHS A FEW PRETTY POUNDS. WE CAN CARRY THAT BACK TO THE SCRAP YARD. MAYBE THEY'LL GIVE US $100 BUCKS FOR IT.
(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, STRONG AND STYLISH PROTECTION FOR OUR FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY, AND HAND CRAFTED AXLE SHAFTS FOR OUR CRAWLER.
(IAN)>> WE'RE BACK ON XTREME IN THE MIDDLE OF BUILDING OUR CUSTOM AXLES FOR OUR TWO CAR GARAGE CRAWLER. THERE WE GO. NOW ON THE SHORT SIDE OF OUR CUSTOM FRONT 14 BOLT WE'RE DOING THINGS VERY SIMILAR TO HOW YOU'VE SEEN US
DO THEM IN THE PAST. CLEANED OUT ALL THE REMAINING AXLE TUBE FROM INSIDE THIS DANA 50 INNERC, CUT THE 14 BOLT AXLE TUBE TO THE LENGTH THAT WE WANT, AND ONCE WE HAVE EVERYTHING SET UP CORRECTLY WE'LL WELD THIS IN PLACE AND THEN THIS HALF OF THE AXLE IS FINISHED.
BUT WE HAVE A PROBLEM ON THE LONG SIDE TUBE. THERE WASN'T ENOUGH AXLE TUBE LEFT OVER FROM OUR DONOR 14 BOLT TO BUILD THIS AXLE TO THE WIDTH THAT WE WANTED, 67 INCHES FROM WHEEL MOUNT TO WHEEL MOUNT, WHICH IS FULL WIDTH. NOW ONE OPTION WOULD BE TO COMPLETELY REMOVE ALL THE LEFTOVER 14 BOLT AXLE TUBE, DRILL OUT THE SPOT WELDS ON THE CENTER SECTION, PRESS THE OLD AXLE TUBE OUT, GET A NEW AXLE TUBE MACHINED, AND PRESS IT BACK INTO THE HOUSING. BUT THAT IS A LOT OF WORK AND CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN TACKLE IF YOU'RE JUST WORKING IN A SMALL TWO CAR GARAGE. CHANCES ARE YOU'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. WE'VE LEFT A GOOD CHUNK OF THE AXLE TUBE FROM OUR DONOR 14 BOLT WELDED TO THE INNERC. WE DID THE MATH ON THE WIDTH OF THIS AXLE AND FIGURED OUT HOW LONG THIS TUBE NEEDS TO BE TOTAL LENGTH. THEN TRIMMED THE 14 BOLT AND THE DANA 50, SO WHEN COMBINED IT GIVES US THE LENGTH OF TUBE THAT WE WANT. WE WILL END UP WITH A BUTT JOINT RIGHT HERE IN THE CENTER OF THAT TUBE. NOW WE'RE GONNA ADD A SLUG TO THAT BUTT JOINT. THAT WILL NOT ONLY HELP ALIGN BOTH THESE AXLE TUBES, BUT WILL ALSO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA STRENGTH AT THIS JOINT. NOW YOU DON'T WANT TO STOP WITH JUST A SLUG.
WHEN WE'RE DONE, WE'RE GONNA BUILD A COMPLETE AXLE TRUSS. NOW THAT WILL BASICALLY LOCK THIS ENTIRE TUBE ASSEMBLY TOGETHER AND CARRY THE LOAD OVER THE CENTER SECTION, DOWN TO THE OTHER TUBE, STRENGTHENING THE ENTIRE AXLE AS AN ASSEMBLY. WE DO HAVE TO WELD THIS JOINT RIGHT HERE, AND BECAUSE WE'RE DEALING WITH THICK WELD AXLE TUBING WE NEED TO WELD IT A VERY SPECIFIC WAY, AND IT STARTS BY GRINDING WHAT'S CALLED A BEVEL. IT STARTS BY GRINDING A 45 DEGREE LIP ON THE END OF
BOTH OF OUR AXLE TUBES. THEN ONCE THE SLUG IS SLID INTO PLACE AND THE TWO TUBES MEET, WE NOW HAVE A TROUGH FOR THE WELDS TO LAY IN. WE'LL START WITH A SMALL ROOT WELD, OVERLAP EACH SIDE WITH TWO SIDE WELDS, THEN WE'LL FINISH IT OFF WITH ONE LARGE, HIGH AMP WELD THAT COVERS BOTH AXLE TUBES. SO FOR RIGHT AROUND $300 DOLLARS WE NOW HAVE A 100 PERCENT CUSTOM FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY THAT IS ARGUABLY STRONGER AND DEFINITELY CHEAPER THAN A DANA 60 VERSION OF THIS EXACT SAME SETUP. NOW ONE THING WE HAVE TO DO NOW IS GET SOME
CUSTOM SHAFTS BUILT. SEE THE 14 BOLT WAS NEVER OFFERED AS A FRONT STEERING AXLE. SO THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE GOING TO FIND AN OFF THE SHELF SHAFT THAT'S GONNA SLIDE INTO THIS NEW CUSTOM HOUSING. NOW THE FIRST STEP TO BUILDING THOSE SHAFTS IS TO MEASURE FOR THEM, AND ONE WAY I'VE FOUND TO MEASURE FOR THESE SHAFTS THAT'S A LOT EASIER IS TO SIMPLY USE AN OLD REAR SHAFT. THIS IS A LONG SIDE SHAFT OUT OF ANOTHER 14 BOLT I'VE GOT LAYING AROUND THE SHOP FOR THE BACK OF THIS PROJECT. I'M SIMPLY GONNA SLIDE IT INTO THE HOUSING AND ENGAGE THE SPIDER GEARS. ONCE I HAVE IT AT THE CORRECT DEPTH, I CAN THEN GO AHEAD AND MARK THE LOCATION OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THAT WILL BE THE CENTER LINE OF THE UJOINT FOR OUR FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY. ONCE I MARK THIS SIDE AND THE SHORT SIDE, SIMPLY PULL A TAPE DOWN THIS SHAFT, RECORD THOSE MEASUREMENTS, AND TAKE THOSE TO OUR AXLE BUILDER.
(ANNOUNCER)>> THE LAST TIME WE HAD THIS MUCH FUN ON ASPHALT WAS UM, NEVER, STICK AROUND!
(IAN)>> HUDLOW AXLE SPECIALIZES IN UNIQUE AND CUSTOM DRIVELINE SOLUTIONS, AND THEY ARE THE GO TO GUYS WHEN IT COMES TO SPLINING CUSTOM AXLE SHAFTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FOR A 14 BOLT.
(STEVE)>> WE DO A LOT OF RING AND PINION SETUPS, CUSTOM AXLES, NARROWED REAR ENDS FOR A LOT OF HOT RODS AND A LOT OF FOUR WHEEL DRIVE APPLICATIONS. BUILD A LOT OF DRIVESHAFTS, STEEL AND ALUMINUM, CHROMOLY RACE CAR SHAFTS AND OFF ROAD SHAFTS.
(IAN)>> WHEN STEVE FOUNDED HIS SHOP, HE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A DEMAND FOR A PLACE THAT CATERED TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE LIKE HIM, PEOPLE WHOSE AUTOMOTIVE IMAGINATIONS RUN WILD.
(STEVE)>> HAD SOME CRAZY IDEAS TO BUILD SOME RADICAL TOYS AND WE JUST SET DOWN AND PUT PEN TO PAPER AND DID IT.
(IAN)>> THIS TOY HAD ITS FOUNDATION IN STEVE'S CHILDHOOD, SITTING IN A SCHOOL DESK DAY DREAMING.
(STEVE)>> I'D DRAW TANKS ON NOTEBOOK PAPER WHEN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN STUDYING. I ALWAYS JUST HAD A FASCINATION WITH TRACK STYLE VEHICLES. AND THEN AFTER DOING ALL THESE ROCK CRAWLERS, AND BUGGIES, AND HOT RODS AND STUFF, I JUST THOUGH THIS WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
(IAN)>> THE TANK, LIKE ALL OF STEVE'S TOYS, WAS ORIGINALLY
DESIGNED TO TEST THE STRENGTH OF DIFFERENT DRIVE LINE COMPONENTS IN AN ABUSIVE VEHICLE. BUT THIS THREE AND A HALF TALL BEAST, IT WAS BUILT JUST FOR FUN.
(STEVE)>> I WANTED TO BUILD SOMETHING REALLY LIGHTWEIGHT, SOMETHING REALLY POWERFUL AND FAST, LIKE A DRIFTER TYPE CAR BUT A RAT ROD TOO. AND FOUND OUT THAT DOING A BUG WAS ONE OF THE MORE CHALLENGING CHOPS. SO IT WAS INTRIGUING TO US. SO WE WANTED THE CHALLENGE AND THAT'S WHAT WE COME UP WITH.
(IAN)>> WHEN HE'S NOT DREAMING UP HIS OWN CREATIONS, HE'S PROVIDING AXLES AND DRIVELINES FOR OTHERS
ONE OF A KIND RIDES.
(STEVE)>> IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE CREATIVE THEIRSELVES, AND I'M JUST USED AS A TOOL TO HELP THEM PUT THOSE PRODUCTS TOGETHER FOR THEIR OWN PROJECTS. YOU ALWAYS TRYING TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE, MAKE A BETTER PRODUCT. THAT WAY WHEN YOU GUYS ARE OUT THERE HAMMERING ON THIS STUFF, IT'D BE JUST ONE LESS THING YOU GUYS HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.
(IAN)>> THE FIRST STEP TO BUILDING OUR CUSTOM AXLES IS TO CUT EACH SHAFT TO LENGTH AND THEN MACHINE THEM IN A LATHE TO THE CORRECT OUTSIDE DIAMETER. THEN EACH SHAFT IS PLACED INTO A DEDICATED SPLINING JIG TO CUT THE 14 BOLT, 30 SPLINE TOOTH COUNT. AND EACH IS FINISHED OFF BY TEST FITTING A SIDE GEAR ONTO THE SHAFT. BUT BEFORE WE HEAD HOME WITH OUR CUSTOM SHAFT, THERE WAS ONE MORE THING WE HAD TO DO. IT'S GET A RIDE IN THIS WICKED SLAMMED VW.
THAT'S SMILE'S GONNA STAY ON MY FACE FOR A WHILE!
( )>> WHAT ARE YOU SWEATING FOR?
(IAN)>> IT'S AWESOME, THAT WAS FUN!
(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, GUTS AND GROUND CLEARANCE FOR OUR 14 BOLT.
(IAN)>> NOW SO FAR WE'VE SHOWN YOU HOW TO PUT TOGETHER THIS CUSTOM FRONT HOUSING USING JUNKYARD PARTS. AND NOW YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO TO GET YOUR AXLES SPLINED FOR A CUSTOM APPLICATION LIKE THIS. BUT I'M SURE SOME OF YOU GUYS ARE WONDERING, HOW ARE WE GONNA SEAL THIS FRONT AXLE HOUSING? BASICALLY KEEP THE OIL FROM POURING OUT EITHER AXLE TUBE ONCE IT'S FILLED UP. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW ARE WE GONNA DEAL WITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WITH A 14 BOLT, AND THAT IS GROUND CLEARANCE? WELL BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE CAN SOLVE BOTH THOSE PROBLEMS
WITH A COUPLE OF PARTS FROM THE SAME PLACE.
ON A REAR AXLE, THE FLUID IS ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE CENTER SECTION TO TRAVEL DOWN THE TUBES AND LUBRICATE THE WHEEL BEARINGS.
ON THE FRONT AXLE WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. NOW A COMPANY THAT'S THOROUGHLY EMBRACED THE WORLD OF 14 BOLT FRONT AXLES HAS BEEN CRANE HIGH CLEARANCE. NOW THEY'VE RECENTLY COME OUT WITH THEIR CRANE REVOLUTION SERIES THREADED SIDE ADJUSTERS. THEY ACCEPT THE FACTORY DANA 60 AXLE SEAL AND WILL REPLACE THE SIDE ADJUSTERS INSIDE OUR HOUSING. TO SOLVE OUR GROUND CLEARANCE PROBLEM WE'RE GONNA USE THE
CRANE HIGH CLEARANCE 13 BOLT/14 BOLT COVER. WE SIMPLY BOLT IT ON TO THE AXLE.
THEN WE CAN SHAVE OFF THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE HOUSING PICKING UP ALMOST AN EXTRA INCH OF GROUND CLEARANCE.
NOW WE ALREADY TOLD YOU GUYS, IF YOU'RE GONNA SLUG AN AXLE TUBE, YOU NEED TO ADD AXLE TRUSS FOR STRENGTH. NOW YEAH, YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND BUILD ONE YOURSELF, BUT IN
A SMALL TWO CAR GARAGE THAT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT OF TIME. A BETTER OPTION IS TO GET ONE OF THESE
PREMADE TRUSS ASSEMBLIES. NOW THIS ONE IS FROM RTECH INDUSTRIES. 100 PERCENT LASER CUT AND CNC BENT USING QUARTER AND THREEEIGHTHS STEEL. NOW I'LL BASICALLY LOCK THE ENTIRE AXLE TOGETHER AND PREVENT THE HOUSING FROM BENDING. NOW WE ADDED ONE ADDITIONAL TRUSS TO THIS AXLE AS WELL. THIS FRONT SKID PLATE FEATURE WILL ACT NOT ONLY AS A FRONT TRUSS TYING THE FRONT OF THE AXLE TUBES TOGETHER, IT ALSO GIVES US A POSITION TO MOUNT OUR HYDRAULIC STEERING DOUBLE ENDED RAM AND PROTECT IT WHEN WE'RE ON THE TRAIL. SO ONCE WE HAVE THIS FULLY WELDED IN PLACE, WHAT WE'VE DONE TODAY, WE'VE TAKEN AN AXLE THAT NOBODY WANTS AND AN AXLE THAT'S NOT THAT POPULAR AND BUILT A 100 PERCENT CUSTOM AND BOMB PROOF FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY.