Topic: Atomic Axles

[chrisfranklin]

You guys ever seen these things?  I was flipping through a S.E.M.A. magazine while getting my tires rotated today.  I see this article on "atomic axles;" 
http://atomicaxles.com/axles/builder.html

The way I figure it, somebody is basically going to have to start dynamiting mountain-sides to create crazy trails for people to use this kind of stuff.   

[sharpxmen]

You guys ever seen these things?  I was flipping through a S.E.M.A. magazine while getting my tires rotated today.  I see this article on "atomic axles;" 
http://atomicaxles.com/axles/builder.html

The way I figure it, somebody is basically going to have to start dynamiting mountain-sides to create crazy trails for people to use this kind of stuff.   

very interesting, reminds me of volvos with the hi-clearance diff position - not much info on the internals though, i would guess they must be using u-joints at both ends (hub and diff) to have the "tubes" at an angle, good looking axles though but the cost is way up there (15k for a set of front/rear for JK).

[Jeffy]

I don't like it.  IIRC, there are 4 U-joints in the housing to get those funky angles.  I'd rather have portal axles.

[sharpxmen]

I don't like it.  IIRC, there are 4 U-joints in the housing to get those funky angles.  I'd rather have portal axles.

did you find anything on the internals on their site (i couldn't), i was just guessing on the u-joints, could be planetary joints but i guess that's the same if not worse.

what are the portals?

[FourbangerYJ]

These have been around awhile. It's like having a driveshaft on each side of the diff, with a UJ on each end.

[Jeffy]

did you find anything on the internals on their site (i couldn't), i was just guessing on the u-joints, could be planetary joints but i guess that's the same if not worse.

what are the portals?

They had axles at SEMA a few years ago.

Portal axles are like Unimog and Volvo 303 axles.  There is a secondary gear box at the wheels.

[chrisfranklin]

I mean, I'm not going to knock these axles or any of the 42" tire-wearing moon-buggies.  Sure it'd be fun to have one or two of the buggies around to drive.  http://www.atomicaxles.com/index.php

But its striking me as kind of one of these deals not quite in line with the old form-follows-function adage.   

I figure you build your Jeep to get you through the trails you're going to drive.
Doing more than that seems kind of like you are engaging in some kind of off-road performance-art more than driving. 

But everybody needs their version of fun stuff to do.  I just am thinking that going over-board on builds just pisses off the enviro-pukes and gets them fired up to start pushing legislators around with regards to closures of good public trails you can do just fine on 31"-35" tires 

In the end, I am serious advocate for private trail creation for these big axle, big moon-buggie rigs.

[Jeffy]

Here's a thread from 2008: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=653056