DFW QUESTIONS

[Falcon777]

Just trying to figure out the front dominate wheel. It looks like most guys are bending the axle so it barely fits into the front wheel bore without scratching it. Then, it is canted down and adjusted to rail run with a displacement of 4 inches for every five feet. Is this correct. Also, since the axle is canted down even after the drift adjustment does the inner wheel hub ride against the side of the car creating some friction? If yes, I assume that the increased friction from the wheel/rail, the hub/body, is offset by the decreased friction of running on the outer edge of the wheel and a steady, run down the track with no wheel banging. Am I understanding this correctly? Why would you not want to cant the front dominate axle up instead of down?

Thanks!

 

[5KidsRacing]

You are right on everything except I would run a little more drift if you don't have a test track... something more like 4" in 4 ft.

My cars are slower with the DFW canted up or negative like the rears.

 

[txchemist]

If your DFW is canted negative, edge of wheel contacts high up on rail, acts like a break, if pos cant, contact is almost at bottom of wheel against rail which just rolls instead of grinding, very little friction added

 

[Falcon777]

Excellent info! For the non dominant wheel, do you prefer bending the axle or drilling a higher hole and if so, how much higher?

Many Thanks!

 

[Bones]

I used to drill the non-dom wheel higher, but now I bend the Dom-side so much it raises the non-dom off the track.

 

[OLD BLUE RACER]

Bones when you do that you are using the back wheels and the steering of the front dominate wheel for the bulk of the speed right
Was Tess's car set up in this fashion
How did you bend the nail/axle could you post a photo
Thanks
Steve

 

[Bones]

On Tessa' s car we had the rears at about 2.5 to 3 degrees of Neg cant and the front dom we had 5 to 10 degs of positive cant. We put the axle in a vise and tapped it with a hammer and screwdriver so it just drops into the wheel without scratching the bore. On a 92 I cut a groove where I want to bend it.

 

[Boydog]

What do you use to cut the groove?

 

[GravityX]

What do you use to cut the groove?

Follow this link.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Paul!

Cool technique!

 

[ngyoung]

The groove really necessary when bending standard bsa axles? They bend pretty easy holding in a vise and tapping with a flathead and hammer. I was worried it would curve the polished section but it bent right on the mark.

 

[GravityX]

When bending standard BSA axle the groove is not needed. Just put the axle between your fingers and bend away... Well... OK... maybe it's not that easy, but it's not far from it. NO groove is needed to aid the bending process.

 

[Dr. T]

I used to drill the non-dom wheel higher, but now I bend the Dom-side so much it raises the non-dom off the track.

I agree with bones. I drill my DFW at 1/8 in up and the NDFW at 5/32 up. Yet after putting toe-in and positive cant on my DFW I notice that the NDFW is pretty darn high up (like 3/32 or so). So I think you could get away with not raising the height of the NDFW axle hole. This is also safer as my cars are all 1/4 in thick and my NDFW axle hole is really close to the top of my car.

Dr. T