Thread: auto vs maxi

Yes.
It depends how you drive. The thing that breaks axles is spinning then regaining traction on one wheel. with a locker all the torque can go through one wheel.
I broke one axle spinning up with 31 inch tyres. And then bent splines 1/4 turn in the Nissan trials, so axles were throw away.. If you have the control to never spin up , but hey who does.
I then replaced with Jacmac axles and no probs. But it then owed me Maxi money.
Go for maxis. They come up used every so often I looked at some at Hornsby for a forumer in Brissy a couple of weeks ago. 2 for $2000 was good. look at Outer Limits for sale lists and the sale here. But Outer Limits is more hard core with forumers switching to Toyota axles or in this case Nissan.
Regards Philip A

Maxi's second hand are a good cheap alternative. Don't pay more than $1500 an end or you may find that you might be better off buying new.

Personally I don't think they are that expensive. ARB air lockers are now gettiong a bit pricey (a mate had one fitted to his 86 Rangie for about $2k drive in/out) and maxi's cost about $2600 or so fiited so really for the extra $600 you get the stronger axles as well and also knowing that your driveline will withstand your future adventures.

I have a set in my 83 Rangie (3.5, ZF converted auto 'box) and I give it heaps off-road and to date no breakage, although one of my CV's is a bit crook (been like that for 6 mionths, stil hanfging in there). But cheasp to fix, especially if you have spares like I do [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Good luck with it.

Trav