Bending Axles

[Knotty Racing]

What is the recommended radius for relief into the axle for bending?

What is the recommended diameter of the relief for axle bending?

I successfully cracked my first one when building my nationals car. I had used the cutoff wheel method while spinning in a drill. I know this put a stress riser into the axle, but I was quite shocked at the actual hardness of the material for it to crack like that.

I would prefer the axle remain the same diameter for strength in case of a fall or something of the sorts, but that doesn't seem possible and then there is the matter of the id of the wheel possibly touching that area of the bend also causing some sort of binding.....

I would also love to hear any successful bending methods other than a hammer/screwdriver with the axle in a vice.

I am about ready to embark on round two for my street rod build for August and I would prefer to avoid this problem this time.

Thanks

 

[Quicktimederby]

The Goatboy bending tool is the only way to bend axles! I have never measured the thickness of the relief but if I had to guess it would be around 25-35% removed. You do not want the bend to extend into the inner hub.