The "Who broke it's axle" thread
 

Hi guys, I want to have some info about FR-S/BRZ owners who broke 1 or 2 axle. They seem damn weak since I've broke 2 in a cupples of months...

Please provide infos!

Car: FR-S '13
KM: 18000
Use: Track & Weekend car
Lowered: Yes, about 3"
Power: App. 210 at the crank
Forced Induction: No
Axle broke story: Left one broke at the drag strip. Dropped the clutch too hard at a too low RPM with sticky tires and some glue on the track. Snapped in the inner boot.

Right one just snapped. About 1500km after the left one. Was in the street, normal left turn. I've snapped the throttle and it broke without giving any advice.

Maybe it was already damaged from the drag strip incident.

I've changed them (Well the right is still broke as we speak) of my own at my cost. I'm a car mecanic and I don't trust anyone...

Seriously that sucks.. and your not the only one it happened to looks like a real weakness in this car.. hope it never happens on my car.

happened on my car. the inner cv joint was clicking on the drivers rear. its my autocross car. have over 400 runs on it. replaced under warranty.

car is on konis and rce yellows 20 mm drop. car is a automatic.

I'll play as I just ordered some DSS upgraded axles to replace mine. And I know a number of locals who are having CV clicking sounds at stock or near stock power.

Car: FR-S '13
Miles: 23,000
Use: Daily with frequent spirited driving
Suspension: ~3" (Ksport Kontrol Pro with rear height approximately 1/4" from lowest height)
Power: 420HP/310TQ @ the crank, 360WHP/260WTQ
Forced Induction: Yes
Other: Car has never been launched, throttle is typically "rolled in". Gears are never slammed.
Axle broke story: While out on a spirited drive I was driving in a decreasing radius turn which resulted in a near full suspension droop on the left. I hit a small dip in the road while starting to ease the throttle in (20-25% throttle) in which my rear sagged near full drop. CV completely destroyed immediately. Car felt like I slammed on the brakes, my seat belt locked against my chest.

Apparently it had been clicking prior to it breaking but I did not hear it. A friend who was behind me at the time said he thought the sound was normal as his was doing the same thing (he has significantly less horse power and is slightly higher ride hide than me, and frequents autox events).

From what I can tell it seems like more of a suspension geometry problem to me. The fact I am still on a factory clutch with over 10k FI miles with frequently spirited driving makes me believe I am quite easy on my transmission / axles. I however am not easy on my suspension.

I have only spun the tires off the line once when replacing my tires at a significantly lower horse power rating. This was months ago. No clicking seemed to happen until a few days prior to the CV shattering.

i was wondering if an axle is broken the car cant be driven at all right ? not even to the closest shop. you would need to tow it ?

CV joints are at their strongest straight, so ride height might be as much a problem as increasing the power.
If they reach the limit of their movement by the angle, under load, than something is going to break. Reaching the limit of extension or compression could also rip the clip off or crack the body.
At the limit for angle the shaft can touch the outer edge of the body and crack it, also the cage can crack and break at extreme angles under load. Both would give the clicking sound.

I'm not sure what sort of CV's are fitted to the inner but if the shaft is breaking inside the boot it could be where it's been touching the body at extreme angles?

you can just buy and replace the axle. Simple job.

Tore a boot at the first event I did. Car had about 1,200 miles.

The axles are weak. People who are extremely low have more issues than others cause the angle of the axles get more and more jacked up as you lower it. I would lower mine a little more but don't want to risk breaking an axle.

Waiting for subframe and diff risers to become available. Also gonna make an upgrade to DSS axles down the road

who is going to be selling these subframe and diff risers?

Your issue would be related to "Lowered: Yes, about 3"".

Why is this an "issue"? All of you with busted parts are racing the car. It's your problem at that point.

Probably because these things shouldn't be breaking on a car specifically designed for spirited driving. Subaru should have taken into account the aftermarket, and culture of lowering the cars for even better handling. My 1999 Honda Prelude has 201K miles, is lowered about 2.5 almost 3 inches and has the original Honda OEM axles. I beat the living shit out of it almost every day and they have yet to fail me. Numerous hard launches (usually with A LOT of wheelhop) and plenty of very hard cornering with a lot of suspension compression. Nary an issue. There is no reason whatsoever Subaru couldn't design their axles to withstand this kind of abuse. And I have a stock motor that is probably making 20HP less than it was when it was manufactured in 1998, if not more.

Subaru, are you listening?

If I could dislike or thumb down this post I would. Do you see how they market this car? Plus, I haven't tracked or raced my car once and I have these issues. For a car with this little power, I can't believe the axles are an issue.

not everyone that has broken an axle had been racing the car. Do your self a favor and do more research before typing next time. Might look a little smarter. Theres threads on here that talk about the clinking and clanking from the axles. Look at my post stats you will find the threads.


Here is video from today. FRS suspension shots. Racecomp RCE springs and Koni Yellow inserts. [ame]http://youtu.be/4PToOkNim7I[/ame]