8.5 axle question

I'm looking to rebuild the 8.5 in my 71 skylark. Currently its a non posi with 2.56 gears.

I'd like to hear what axles ( Strange/ Moser/ etc) you guys are running and if you have the part#.

I'd like to upgrade to 3o/31 spline. I cant seem to find the right part #. I keep finding C-Clip axles.

 

I run Moser, they are priced less but proven, Strange is considered a touch better by most, MW is the best hands down. Dutchman Yukon etc I have no experience with Yukon is good stuff so I hear

 

If it's a bolt in axle 8.5 you can only go up to 30 spline, after that the axle won't fit through the bearing. I believe they are custom axles at every manufacture. Though they now have axles for the bolt in 8.2.

Can I ask what your going to be doing to need the axle upgrade. I am running at 8.5 axles in my 3850 pounder car and drive going 10.90s...........sshhhhh don't tell tech.....never broke one yet

I would think unless your either a going to really drag race it with sub 1.5 60ft time or just want to spend 500 bucks on axles and bearings, it might not be really needed

 

I can send you a spec sheet to order a set of Moser 30-spline axles. Build it once.

 

Its like Brian said above. I want to do this once and do it right. Its probably overboard but thats how I usually do stuff.

Thank you guys for your answers.

 

Now I do have honest to goodness feedback on stock 28 spline Moser replacement axles IE the the $300ish ones. My stock axles were fine after several years of racing, decided to build a nice rear so I order up some mosers and after about 20runs or so I decided to go to a 390 gear and I couldn't get the new axles out to save my life,...the splines had rolled TERRIBLE, called Moser kinda pissed, tech guy says well that's the "replacement" axle it's not intended for for "racing" this was a 12.40 car BTW so no beast by no means, I say but my stock axles had 5x the # runs on them and they weren't rolled. Tech fella said put them back in,....I ask about my $300 for the axles he said nothing helpful, so trashed them. Moral of the story is get the "Race" axle

 

Now that is just BS. A replacement axles should be as strong as the stk one its replacing. I have 2800 passes on my car running quicker than 11.70, with most being under 11.25 and the last 500 or so being 10.90s to 11.0s. In that time I have gone through 2 pairs of stk axles, never broken one yet, I do check them, when they twist 1 spline I swap sides, when the twist back one spline again I toss them. Always start the year planning to upgrade but something in life seems to steal that money, this year it will be manditory.

But never rolled a spline where they would not come out, even after twistING them

 

I agree man, that's been years ago, but I swear that's exactly how it went down. Moser splines look terrible, they are cut in with a cut off wheel in a jig. Strange has better splines, and MW's are rolled in I believe.

 

Wonder if the race axles are cut the same way. It's good to hear this info before I order. I'm sure there has got to be other ppl using someone's axles be nice to hear how many splines and how they ate holding up

 

Yea my 33spline race axles were cut with a wheel, kinda crude looking, but they slid in their spool nice and snug, still seems like machining them in would at the very least Look more better ha

 

When people think of ordering axles,I always suggest the larger spline count. The 28-spline are the same price as the 30-spline. I haven't had any issues with any Moser shafts. I have also had Strange and MW shafts. I've had Strange and Moser next to each other,and I did not notice a difference in the cut of the splines,but that doesn't mean they are all like that.
As far as the stock shafts go,I tell people that the factory 8.5 shafts are generally good for 11:70's and slower,in a 3800-4000lb A-body car,with an automatic and foot brake. When you start to factor in a trans-brake,stick-shift,or anything else that puts more blunt force at home plate,you're not going to get as far with them.