Summers Brothers 31 spline subaxles
06-18-2009, 01:59 PM
#1
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Posts: 30,607
Received 239 Likes
on
167 Posts
Summers Brothers 31 spline subaxles
I've got a rear wheel bearing going, and with my engine upgrade, it seems like a good idea and pull the trigger on upgrading my subaxles.
I emailed Summers Brothers about their kit and got the following.
SUMMERS BROTHER RACING
KIT # DESCRIPTION COST
409200 1986 – 1996 C4 CORVETTE HEAVY DUTY AXLE KIT $1,300.00
COMPLETE KIT INCLUDES:
2 OUTTER REAR HUB ASSEMBLY – MODIFIED TO TAKE 30 SPLINES
2 OUTTER AXLES - MODIFIED THE SMALL STOCK STUB SHAFT, BORED OUT AND BROACH TO 31 SPLINES.
2 300M STUB SHAFTS AXLES – MACHINE 30 AND 31 SPLINES, HEAT TREATED FOR STENGTH, AND DURABILITY PRESSED INTO THE YOKE TO CREATE A HEAVY DUTY OUTTER AXLE.
409201 1986 – 1996 C4 CORVETTE HEAVY DUTY AXLE KIT $920.00
COMPLETE KIT INCLUDES:
2 OUTTER REAR HUB ASSEMBLY – MODIFIED TO TAKE 30 SPLINES
2 OUTTER AXLES - MODIFIED THE SMALL STOCK STUB SHAFT, BORED OUT AND BROACH TO 31 SPLINES.
2 300M STUB SHAFTS AXLES – MACHINE 30 AND 31 SPLINES, HEAT TREATED FOR STENGTH, AND DURABILITY PRESSED INTO THE YOKE TO CREATE A HEAVY DUTY OUTTER AXLE.
(Outter rear hub bearings and stock outer axles must be provided by the customer and we will do the modified.)
I'm seeing if they can do it with the new tapered bearings that are out.
I emailed Summers Brothers about their kit and got the following.
SUMMERS BROTHER RACING
KIT # DESCRIPTION COST
409200 1986 – 1996 C4 CORVETTE HEAVY DUTY AXLE KIT $1,300.00
COMPLETE KIT INCLUDES:
2 OUTTER REAR HUB ASSEMBLY – MODIFIED TO TAKE 30 SPLINES
2 OUTTER AXLES - MODIFIED THE SMALL STOCK STUB SHAFT, BORED OUT AND BROACH TO 31 SPLINES.
2 300M STUB SHAFTS AXLES – MACHINE 30 AND 31 SPLINES, HEAT TREATED FOR STENGTH, AND DURABILITY PRESSED INTO THE YOKE TO CREATE A HEAVY DUTY OUTTER AXLE.
409201 1986 – 1996 C4 CORVETTE HEAVY DUTY AXLE KIT $920.00
COMPLETE KIT INCLUDES:
2 OUTTER REAR HUB ASSEMBLY – MODIFIED TO TAKE 30 SPLINES
2 OUTTER AXLES - MODIFIED THE SMALL STOCK STUB SHAFT, BORED OUT AND BROACH TO 31 SPLINES.
2 300M STUB SHAFTS AXLES – MACHINE 30 AND 31 SPLINES, HEAT TREATED FOR STENGTH, AND DURABILITY PRESSED INTO THE YOKE TO CREATE A HEAVY DUTY OUTTER AXLE.
(Outter rear hub bearings and stock outer axles must be provided by the customer and we will do the modified.)
06-18-2009, 02:05 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
Those two descriptions look remarkably similar to each other, I wonder why one is more money.
I looked into beefing up the spindles too but at the time, it was too much cost for me.
I looked into beefing up the spindles too but at the time, it was too much cost for me.
06-18-2009, 02:22 PM
#3
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Posts: 30,607
Received 239 Likes
on
167 Posts
on the 2nd one
Outter rear hub bearings and stock outer axles must be provided by the customer and we will do the modified.
06-18-2009, 02:54 PM
#4
Thoroughly chapped
Member Since: Oct 2006
Location: If you're not angry, you're not paying attention
Posts: 20,355
Received 409 Likes
on
327 Posts
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
NCM Member '09
I know their stuff is good, but I'd be tempted to go for a 9" conversion....
06-18-2009, 03:22 PM
#5
Intermediate
Member Since: Aug 2005
Location: Lahti, Finland
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So the kit #409200 is everything needed and doesn`t need any core exchange? Also going to pull the trigger this summer..
Let us know if tapered bearings are possible with this kit.
Let us know if tapered bearings are possible with this kit.
06-18-2009, 04:11 PM
#7
Race Director
That takes care of a couple weak points. Now for the halfshafts and rear diff... 
06-18-2009, 04:36 PM
#8
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Posts: 30,607
Received 239 Likes
on
167 Posts
No, I wasn't there when it was repaired. Maybe Paul, SloRVette, still has the parts. We did learn something great - there is a company which manufactures new D44 center sections and housings. The D44 shortage may be a thing of the past. Ask Paul for details.
...
The new center section parts were about $310. I was pleased at that price.
...
The new center section parts were about $310. I was pleased at that price.
http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/p4_c...re+Information
06-18-2009, 09:49 PM
#9
06-18-2009, 11:38 PM
#10
Those are a photo of the set that I had them do for me a while back ... probably the first of the recent sets.
So I can offer some insight:
1) Those are Tapered bearing Hubs in the photo (I recommend taking the $920 option and sending in your own bearings and spindles)
2) The spline count is 31 into the yoke, and 30 into the bearing.
Other Notes:
- If they don't do it, the back side of the new shaft must be welded to the yoke. (the yoke hole in the photo of the one on the right) They didn't know that when they made that set, but I told them about it after I receiving them (otherwise the shaft will pull out when you tighten the spindle nut) ... so hopefully they will do that for you now. I took mine to a local welding shop before installing.
-It appears that they drilled out the inside diameter of my bearings too large before broaching them to 30 splines. (the splines of the spindle don't engage the bearing splines much at all ... about 0.02 inch!). I haven't had mine on the road yet, so I can't say if it will strip out or not. This was a mistake on their part ... looks like they drilled it out to an appropriate size to broach to 31 splines, and then ended up broaching it to 30 splines and making the shaft to match. Make sure that ones that you get made are not made this way!
-The shafts themselves appear to be very high quality.
So I can offer some insight:
1) Those are Tapered bearing Hubs in the photo (I recommend taking the $920 option and sending in your own bearings and spindles)
2) The spline count is 31 into the yoke, and 30 into the bearing.
Other Notes:
- If they don't do it, the back side of the new shaft must be welded to the yoke. (the yoke hole in the photo of the one on the right) They didn't know that when they made that set, but I told them about it after I receiving them (otherwise the shaft will pull out when you tighten the spindle nut) ... so hopefully they will do that for you now. I took mine to a local welding shop before installing.
-It appears that they drilled out the inside diameter of my bearings too large before broaching them to 30 splines. (the splines of the spindle don't engage the bearing splines much at all ... about 0.02 inch!). I haven't had mine on the road yet, so I can't say if it will strip out or not. This was a mistake on their part ... looks like they drilled it out to an appropriate size to broach to 31 splines, and then ended up broaching it to 30 splines and making the shaft to match. Make sure that ones that you get made are not made this way!
-The shafts themselves appear to be very high quality.
06-19-2009, 09:15 AM
#11
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Posts: 30,607
Received 239 Likes
on
167 Posts
Thanks,
I'm real glad you posted that info!
FYI
http://www.corvette-guru.com/modules...forumpost92090
I'll keep my stock spindle as a spare
I'm real glad you posted that info!
FYI
http://www.corvette-guru.com/modules...forumpost92090
Josh wrote:
I have that set up with the stock bearings.
I haven't broken anything yet, but I did have a bearing failure.
I sent them another stock bearing and they broached it for $120 or so.
That's something to think about, once you do this upgrade, you have to use the bearing broached for the larger splines.
No more running to the parts store and buying a bearing.
Let us know how it works out for you.
I have that set up with the stock bearings.
I haven't broken anything yet, but I did have a bearing failure.
I sent them another stock bearing and they broached it for $120 or so.
That's something to think about, once you do this upgrade, you have to use the bearing broached for the larger splines.
No more running to the parts store and buying a bearing.
Let us know how it works out for you.
Last edited by BrianCunningham; 06-19-2009 at 09:21 AM.
06-19-2009, 03:42 PM
#12
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Posts: 30,607
Received 239 Likes
on
167 Posts
More info:
What you are running into is the guy who came up with the original set up didn't set up a CAD file or anything on the axle or bearing. It was literally drawn free hand on a piece of paper. No measurements noted, nothing. I guess all the details were in his brain, and a good number of their products were created this way. This is how the first (and only) set was made back in 2002. Unfortunately, that guy doesn't work there anymore.
Sometime in 05 or 06 I was contacted by a dude on the CF that told me about these stub axles that he had made by Summers Brothers, the owner of the first set from 02. I called Summers and spoke at length, several times, with Raphael about the axles. After literally digging through shoe boxes of hand sketches found what he thought was a sketch of the C4 stub axles and bearings.
He asked me if I had some broken pieces I could send him, so I boxed up some broken axles and destroyed bearings for him.
About a month later we started talking again, and Raphael seemed confident that he could build something that would work for me.
...
I smoked a bearing a couple months ago. I contacted Summers only to find out that Raphael no longer worked there. Arrrgh. No one there knew anything about the bearing/axle combo, and I had to go through the whole process of explaining the set up again. Eventually, Jose was on the same page as I was, and was able to supply a bearing for me.
Sorry man, that was sort of an 'around the world' way of explaining the problems that are being reported. You've got a guy building the parts that hasn't ever done a set before.
Mine are welded inside the yoke. I haven't had a problem other than the bearing failure.
Sometime in 05 or 06 I was contacted by a dude on the CF that told me about these stub axles that he had made by Summers Brothers, the owner of the first set from 02. I called Summers and spoke at length, several times, with Raphael about the axles. After literally digging through shoe boxes of hand sketches found what he thought was a sketch of the C4 stub axles and bearings.
He asked me if I had some broken pieces I could send him, so I boxed up some broken axles and destroyed bearings for him.
About a month later we started talking again, and Raphael seemed confident that he could build something that would work for me.
...
I smoked a bearing a couple months ago. I contacted Summers only to find out that Raphael no longer worked there. Arrrgh. No one there knew anything about the bearing/axle combo, and I had to go through the whole process of explaining the set up again. Eventually, Jose was on the same page as I was, and was able to supply a bearing for me.
Sorry man, that was sort of an 'around the world' way of explaining the problems that are being reported. You've got a guy building the parts that hasn't ever done a set before.
Mine are welded inside the yoke. I haven't had a problem other than the bearing failure.
06-19-2009, 03:51 PM
#13
Melting Slicks
I have these in my car. I had a bearing failure and kept a stock spindle and bearing for just such an ocassion. I have the stock unit in the car on one side now, and the Summers stuff on the other side. Fortunately, my new bearing arrived about a week ago, so once I get some free time I'll swap them out again.
06-19-2009, 10:18 PM
#14
Burning Brakes
I hope in the near future I can break mine.
So I have been thinking about this a lot. One of my ideas is to change ever thing from inside the case out to the nut. My thoughts are to use a cv joint instead of halfshafts. Have the yokes coming out of the rearend changed to splined like the viper rear. there are several ppl who make adaptor to fit this spline. 930 cv joint and a good 300m axle. Have a stub axle made or machine the one i kno of and install the ring(for the ppl who need them). I do have a set coming in a couple weeks that are suppose to hold 1000hp. Not for a c4 tho. It wont be cheap but I believe it could be a alt to the C4 parts. It would be nice if some one would cast a case to accept the viper dana 44 parts.
So I have been thinking about this a lot. One of my ideas is to change ever thing from inside the case out to the nut. My thoughts are to use a cv joint instead of halfshafts. Have the yokes coming out of the rearend changed to splined like the viper rear. there are several ppl who make adaptor to fit this spline. 930 cv joint and a good 300m axle. Have a stub axle made or machine the one i kno of and install the ring(for the ppl who need them). I do have a set coming in a couple weeks that are suppose to hold 1000hp. Not for a c4 tho. It wont be cheap but I believe it could be a alt to the C4 parts. It would be nice if some one would cast a case to accept the viper dana 44 parts.
06-19-2009, 11:40 PM
#15
Melting Slicks
I thought about a CV axle conversion as well, but never really pursued it.
I haven't broken anything in awhile, so that was kinda the end of the thought process on the CV axle conversion. If I start to break things again, I might get more into it, but for right now I'm pretty happy with the rear end.
Let us know if you blaze a trail on the CV axle conversion.
I haven't broken anything in awhile, so that was kinda the end of the thought process on the CV axle conversion. If I start to break things again, I might get more into it, but for right now I'm pretty happy with the rear end.
Let us know if you blaze a trail on the CV axle conversion.
06-20-2009, 06:59 PM
#16
Burning Brakes
Its a lil more than just just putting cv joint in it. The half shaft holds the knuckle...so it will need some type of support on top of the knuckle. there is not a lot of room.
08-11-2009, 05:42 PM
#18
08-12-2009, 09:42 AM
#20
Racer
Member Since: Apr 2003
Location: triangle NC
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I snapped a stock spindle shaft at the track with my weak engine.
I replaced with Toms treated units and CR bearings and havnt had any problems yet ~20k miles and 100+ track passes on DR's.
I replaced with Toms treated units and CR bearings and havnt had any problems yet ~20k miles and 100+ track passes on DR's.