Wheels and axles

some factory cars are pinched tight enough so they don't spin, if not it not only lets the axle slide left to right but if you adjust the wheels and then the axle spins kills your adjustments...
I.M.O. you should "fix" the axle... i would not use solder [heat]...after fixing, if it doesn't roll straight, you can adjust it...
also T.L.D. posted a good comment on fixing axles, and with pictures....
.... drill 'em

I did some testing of that theory and in the end the cars with fixed axles were faster than those with loose ones.
Just make sure the axle is relatively centered before you glue it into place. 5 min. epoxy or jb weld is the fixer of choice

I think most everybody uses JB Weld or some type of epoxy to attach the axle and make it so it does not move.

I've seen at least one case where a car had a plastic chassis and the JB Weld came loose in one big piece. To help fight that, you can use some Smitty Rivits made from JB Weld . You drill a couple little holes in the chassis so that when you put in the weld it will go through the holes and hold on to both sides of the chassis.

You don't have to go the extra mile with the "rivits", but if the axle comes loose after you seal the car back up you may have a problem getting back in there.

There are a couple photos that may help in this thread.
http://www.redlinederby.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=784

Those photos show the axle being moved to a different position. You don't have to do that.

Here's the write-up I did a while ago about axle fixing...I still do fix my axles because by all rights, the less friction the better, even if it doesn't seem to help all the time.

http://www.redlinederby.com/blog/2009/0 ... ter-speed/

i took apart some new FTE cars and was going to put them in one of my daughters favorite cars that was turtle fast (a pink purple passion). But the axels are too long for the chasis. Can I cut it down and JB both halves? or will cutting it ruin the integrity of the FTE?

Can I cut it down and JB both halves? or will cutting it ruin the integrity of the FTE?

I think what most people do is just find a donor FTE car with the correct axle width.

I've thought about doing that before. What scarred me away was the thought of trying to line up all 4 wheels so that the car will roll straight. I'm sure it can be done, but I just ended up going and getting a different set of wheels with the correct width. Seems easier at least.

ditto

I just tried cutting FTE axles down and then fixing them to a chassis and IMO it isn't worth the work and time.

I think what most people do is just find a donor FTE car with the correct axle width.

I've thought about doing that before. What scarred me away was the thought of trying to line up all 4 wheels so that the car will roll straight. .
. IF YOUR BASE IS FLAT, you can flip it upside down about a minute and a half into J.B.QUICK's set-up time...roll on some lined paper to insure a straight tracking... don't forget to space the wheels out from the base... you may need to repeat the roll after shimming so take care...

just now fitting axles under my sportsman class entrant...2005 FTE '69 firebird t/a looked right... drilled 'er rivits out... the wheels fall out ! ... handy

Wow, I've had axles so loose that I was sure they would fall out when I took it apart, but it's never actually happened.

You can cut the axle in half and rejoin the halves with 1/16 inch tubing found at Hobby Lobby. It's a lot of work and difficult to align the wheels for racing. On a show car it works great. Here's one that I widened the axles on: