Georgia Fiero Club Forum

All Things Fiero => General Fiero Discussion => Topic started by: GTRS Fiero on September 17, 2017, 07:05:06 pm

Title: What keeps me from damaging my half-shafts?
Post by: GTRS Fiero on September 17, 2017, 07:05:06 pm

Sometimes, when I make a turn, one rear wheel is lifted off the ground.  You know the wheel is turning, so the axle is also turning.  What keeps this from breaking the joint at that angle?  If the sway bar, how about on pre-88's?

Title: Re: What keeps me from damaging my half-shafts?
Post by: TopNotch on September 17, 2017, 08:03:06 pm

How do you know the wheel lifts off the ground? Unless you have a limited slip differential, the lifted wheel should spin like crazy, with an increase of engine RPM's.

Title: Re: What keeps me from damaging my half-shafts?
Post by: GTRS Fiero on September 17, 2017, 08:32:24 pm

Well, this happens in turns where an incline is involved.  I'm not really on the throttle, but the tire sure chirps and makes the car lurch when the tire makes contact.  This is near my house, so happens when I make a particular left to go to the gas station.

Title: Re: What keeps me from damaging my half-shafts?
Post by: TopNotch on September 17, 2017, 09:53:44 pm

I don't think your half shafts will be harmed at all. Remember that the half shafts used on the rear of a Fiero were designed for front wheel drive cars, where they go through a lot more angular changes.

Title: Re: What keeps me from damaging my half-shafts?
Post by: GTRS Fiero on September 17, 2017, 10:05:46 pm

True, but if you lift the rear wheels off the ground, you aren't supposed to turn the wheels, for fear of damage.

Title: Re: What keeps me from damaging my half-shafts?
Post by: Fierofool on September 17, 2017, 10:19:52 pm

The cv joint can handle the angular deflection.  It's the inboard tri-pot that kinks up.  Usually the shorter left one.  If the outside corner of the front end is dipping that much you may need a bigger front sway bar.  In all the agressive driving I've done I've never experienced rear wheel lift on stock suspensions.

Title: Re: What keeps me from damaging my half-shafts?
Post by: GTRS Fiero on September 18, 2017, 07:52:46 pm

Well, roads sometimes aren't very good.  If you make a left over a high spot in the road, the car will briefly be on the LR and RF tires.

Going to Chicago, last weekend, I drove my truck.  I have at least 8” of clearance.  At a speed of about 5MPH, I hit a pothole deep enough that I scraped the undercarriage.  I'd let off the brake and goosed the throttle right beforehand, so the front suspension was extended.  The impression their roads left on me wasn't a good one.

Title: Re: What keeps me from damaging my half-shafts?
Post by: Fierofool on September 18, 2017, 08:30:43 pm

Make note to self:  Pot holes another reason to not go to Chicago.

Title: Re: What keeps me from damaging my half-shafts?
Post by: Fierofool on September 18, 2017, 08:33:42 pm

Most of the admonitions I've heard or read is that you shouldn't start and run the car with suspension unloaded.  Probably a brief encounter as you describe won't do harm.

Title: Re: What keeps me from damaging my half-shafts?
Post by: GTRS Fiero on September 18, 2017, 08:34:26 pm

The roads were terrible.  I couldn't get over how bad even the toll roads were.