Hard axles

[turvuren]

I need some help choosing material for axles. I'm considering a C32 hardness with a yield of 130,000 and a C35 with a yield of 100,000. How easy will it be to drill material of this hardness and should i consider a different choice? These are available from McMaster.

[thebuggyman1]

I am not famiiar with the hardness grades you listed, but I know that hard steel is not good for axles. You need something more like a chromoly, a spring steel that will flex without being brittle. Whipper probably would know more. .....Whipper????

[jpswift1]

Hi Tim! Like buggyman said, this is probably a question for Whipper. He's the king of this kind of thing. I'm going to take a guess and say something like 4140 Chromoly would do probably the job for you. Are you going to make it to Ashtabula this year?

[whipper-ag]

I would go with the 4140 HT.It make a good axle for our application. There's lots of other materials that would be way better but then it get's pricey.

Whipper

[turvuren]

Thanks, I think the C32 one is the 4140 material. If you search chrome moly on Mcmaster they don't list round stock. I'll defintely make Ashtabula and hope to bring my mega attex project for input from fellow 6x6ers. I'll post a picture in the near future when it is at least all one color

[jpswift1]

Thanks, I think the C32 one is the 4140 material. If you search chrome moly on Mcmaster they don't list round stock. I'll defintely make Ashtabula and hope to bring my mega attex project for input from fellow 6x6ers. I'll post a picture in the near future when it is at least all one color

Very good, Tim. I look forward to seeing it!

[PlumCrazy]

Thanks, I think the C32 one is the 4140 material. If you search chrome moly on Mcmaster they don't list round stock. I'll defintely make Ashtabula and hope to bring my mega attex project for input from fellow 6x6ers. I'll post a picture in the near future when it is at least all one color

This may be what you were looking for.

Do a search on "6689T126"

McMaster-Carr

Part Number: 6689T126

Material
Multipurpose 4140/4142 Alloy Steel

Alloy
4140/4142

Finish/Coating
Chrome-Coated

Shape
Rods and Discs

Diameter
1"

Diameter Tolerance
-0.0015"

Length
6'

Length Tolerance
+1/16"

Straightness Tolerance
Not Rated

Tolerance
Standard

Temper/Condition
Hardened, Quenched, Tempered

Hardness
Rockwell C30-C32

Yield Strength
100,000 psi

Specifications Met
Not Rated
WARNING
Hardness and yield strength are not guaranteed and are intended only as a basis for comparison.

[turvuren]

I made a front axle of the c32 material and decided to go shorter- I have lots of rocks to avoid. I'll post again after I do opposite side and have chance to run it. I'm at 2" shorter and it looks neat with the front tire tucked in.