RCV Performance FSAE Axle Kit Disassembly

[David BV]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently in the process of installing strain gauges on our rear axles. A team member who graduated last year prepared a nifty little IR transmission module that has to be inserted on the shaft.

I hit a snag trying to disassemble the tripods from the splines of the FSAE Axle Kit we bought from RCV Performance (http://www.rcvperformance.com). The tripod is retained on the shaft spline with snaprings that are quite inconveniently located out of reach of any tool (please see the 2nd to last drawing on this page (http://www.rcvperformance.com/saeaxlekit.html)). We tried to pop the tripods out using a mallet or a press, without success. I was wondering if any of you had a solution that doesn't involve destroying the parts or violently banging your head on a concrete wall.

For those wondering, I'll gladly post some test data if I ever get this setup to work...

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/coplander/IMG_4640.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/coplander/IMG_4642.jpg

Thanks for helping out.

[David BV]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently in the process of installing strain gauges on our rear axles. A team member who graduated last year prepared a nifty little IR transmission module that has to be inserted on the shaft.

I hit a snag trying to disassemble the tripods from the splines of the FSAE Axle Kit we bought from RCV Performance (http://www.rcvperformance.com). The tripod is retained on the shaft spline with snaprings that are quite inconveniently located out of reach of any tool (please see the 2nd to last drawing on this page (http://www.rcvperformance.com/saeaxlekit.html)). We tried to pop the tripods out using a mallet or a press, without success. I was wondering if any of you had a solution that doesn't involve destroying the parts or violently banging your head on a concrete wall.

For those wondering, I'll gladly post some test data if I ever get this setup to work...

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/coplander/IMG_4640.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/coplander/IMG_4642.jpg

Thanks for helping out.

[Garlic]

That isn't a set screw in that hole is it?

Are you sure it's a snap ring? Not a 'spring ring', the type that just retains but you can pop off? They are common on production axles.

If so, they can be a pain sometime, I've found they respond better to imapct that steady pressure like a press. Try a slide hammer.

[David BV]

I cleaned the part the best I could (after taking the pictures, that is...) but couldn't find any set screw or tool access path to the snap ring hidden inside. Neither could I find anything looking down the inside of the hollow shaft.

I call it a snap ring because it is identified as such in the aforementioned RCV Performance drawing ("615-17 snaprings"). The Rockford CV Snap Ring Catalog (http://www.rockfordcv.com/PDF%20Downloads/Snap_Rings.PDF) provides this illustration:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b266/coplander/snapring.jpg

It could very well be of the spring ring kind (if I understand correctly what you mean); however it already resisted considreable impacts... I tend to think however that it's the only way it could come out. If someone could confirm this or provide an alternative procedure, I'd gladly appreciate!

Thanks a lot,

[Garlic]

That appears to be a 'spring-ring' David. I put it in quotes because that's my own term. http://fsae.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

So all it takes in this case is a good pull and it should pop off. Like I said impact is better than steady pressure. They can be a real pain sometimes.

I've run into problems before with them getting stuck too far out and getting bound up, especially when steady pressure (like a press) is used. In that case it's stuck and it's gonna be a real bear. If it's soft enough you might be able to put a lot of force on it and smear the caught edge (I shudder at it but I've been there).

Slide hammer works best for these things, see if you can borrow or make one.

[DaveC]

Bang it back inward to relieve any stress currently on the snap ring. Then, as Garlic said, apply an extremely hard, sharp impact with whatevers handy as spread out around the axleshaft as you can. If you use a slide hammer, better make it a big one... It could be a gap or hole in a piece of metal that the other end of the axle goes thru, then yank as hard as you cn on the shaft, and hopefully the end will pop off.

Good Luck