Author Topic: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?  (Read 22273 times)

November 02, 2013, 03:14:39 pm

TylerDurden

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Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« on: November 02, 2013, 03:14:39 pm »
My FLAPS was acquired by a larger parts holding company.

No more EMPI axles, now only SurTrack.

Am I the first Guinea-pig, or has anyone else got these at any time?



Reply #1November 02, 2013, 04:44:28 pm

TylerDurden

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2013, 04:44:28 pm »
Surprise, surprise,

The SurTrack axle I just opened has EMPI stamped into the side of the inner CV.


We shall see...

Reply #2November 05, 2013, 08:50:41 am

rs899

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2013, 08:50:41 am »
I think it's all the same Chinese junk, isn't it?  We will be waiting a long time for their metallurgy to approach what the cars originally started with, IMO.
'91 Jetta 1.6 NA, '82 Caddy 1.6NA, '81 Cabriolet,  4 Mercedes OM616/617s , 2 Triumphs and a Citroen DS19 in a pear tree.

Reply #3November 05, 2013, 08:14:55 pm

wolf_walker

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2013, 08:14:55 pm »
I think it's all the same Chinese junk, isn't it?  We will be waiting a long time for their metallurgy to approach what the cars originally started with, IMO.

That's been my experience.


If you can suck it up and spend the money, GKN still sells reasonable quality CV joints.
Most everything else, and boots, are varying degrees of junk compared to what came on the cars.

Many things we do naturally become difficult only when we try to make them intellectual subjects. It is possible to know so much about a subject that you become ignorant.
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Reply #4November 05, 2013, 09:59:43 pm

bbob203

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2013, 09:59:43 pm »
Not everything made in china is junk.
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Reply #5November 05, 2013, 10:16:39 pm

theman53

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #5 on: November 05, 2013, 10:16:39 pm »
Not everything made in china is junk.

Your absolutely correct... Their junk is made well, and therefore not junk but well made junk. Let me know if you find much else that is up to USA standards. Will it work, yes. Will it work and last, probably not. The Chinese bolts I sell have came LEAPS AND BOUNDS from where they were, but they still will not hold a candle to a Canadian or US made bolt. Now are they 50% as good, maybe, and they are more than 50% cheaper so people buy them.

Reply #6November 05, 2013, 10:54:42 pm

vanbcguy

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #6 on: November 05, 2013, 10:54:42 pm »
Anyone try Raxles?  Heard nothing but good things about them. 
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Reply #7November 15, 2013, 01:25:38 am

wolf_walker

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #7 on: November 15, 2013, 01:25:38 am »
Anyone try Raxles?  Heard nothing but good things about them. 

Yep, year or two ago, what it would cost them to build a pair was about the same as it'd cost me
to buy 4 new GKN joint/boot kits.  They were friendly and straightforward.
I think I ended up selling them a bunch of old core 911 axles.

Last time I looked it was like $75 per joint or so for GKN's.
Anyone that thinks a $50 reman complete axle is anything but crap, Chinese or otherwise,
will most likely be disappointed.  If you don't mind the labor or replacing them yearly
and aren't putting a lot of power down they are a deal.
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Reply #8January 08, 2015, 12:07:56 pm

92EcoDiesel Jetta

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #8 on: January 08, 2015, 12:07:56 pm »
TylerDurden, what did you end up doing with the axles? I am doing research on what I should do with my 92 Eco with 90 mm axles which are spewing grease out of the CV joints. My hearing is not that good and can't tell if they are starting to make noise or not among engine noise.

My choices are:

1. Replace with new FEQ (Chinese made) axles $65 ea from FCP with a lifetime guarantee. These are complete axles with boots and replacement is straightforward.

2. Rebuild my OE axles with GKN outer CV joint kit from FCP at $67 ea.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volkswagen-drive-shaft-cv-joint-kit-gkn-191498099f

Do the inner joints need rebuild too or not much go wrong with them? If it needs it, that will increase cost and labor.

Reply #9January 08, 2015, 04:49:13 pm

TylerDurden

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #9 on: January 08, 2015, 04:49:13 pm »
I'm using the SurTrack/EMPI jobbies, so far so good.

Reply #10January 09, 2015, 09:34:34 am

92EcoDiesel Jetta

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #10 on: January 09, 2015, 09:34:34 am »
I'm using the SurTrack/EMPI jobbies, so far so good.

Did you have to undo the ball joints to get the axles out?

Reply #11January 09, 2015, 09:42:43 am

TylerDurden

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #11 on: January 09, 2015, 09:42:43 am »
I think it's easier to undo the two bolts on the strut and tip the knuckle out a bit.

As  for the inners, they seem to rarely fail.

Reply #12January 09, 2015, 10:49:14 am

92EcoDiesel Jetta

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #12 on: January 09, 2015, 10:49:14 am »
I think it's easier to undo the two bolts on the strut and tip the knuckle out a bit.

As  for the inners, they seem to rarely fail.

Yes that seems easier. But either way the camber will be disturbed (if the bj holes are slotted).
Is there a circlip or something that's problematic (do not fit) in the Chinese axles?

Reply #13January 10, 2015, 07:58:29 am

TylerDurden

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #13 on: January 10, 2015, 07:58:29 am »
Yes that seems easier. But either way the camber will be disturbed (if the bj holes are slotted).
...

I don't think the camber gets changed on the MK2s when just the strut bolts are removed.

Reply #14January 12, 2015, 10:36:52 am

srgtlord

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Re: Surtrack axles... anybody used em?
« Reply #14 on: January 12, 2015, 10:36:52 am »
That depends.... There is a set of aftermarket strut bolts floating around on the market that ar slightly smaller in diameter  than the stock bolts. My car had these and the camber needed to be adjusted at the alignment shop. To get around this problem I usually just unbolt the balljoint, pop off the tie-rod and hammer a rod of metal on the control arm until the ball joint pops out from the steering knuckle.

 

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