Driveshaft

Stock AX10 driveshafts are great for a stock truck but once you start adding weight and extra power (lipos, etc) you will surpass their abilities. I found myself installing a set of Traxxas "Stampede" halfshafts in place of the AX10 shafts. The Traxxas shafts and are sturdy and quite inexpensive but over time they to will wear out. The main problem I found with the Stampede shafts is that the male end will twist inside the female end and pop out of the channels. The female end could be sleeved if necessary but what about the male end? I decided to drive a brass rod down the center of the male shaft that is slightly larger than the existing hole in hopes it would prevent the shaft from twisting.

PARTS & SUPPLIES NEEDED
1/8" Brass rod

TOOLS
Dremel with cutting discs
Various grit sandpaper
File
Drill
Pliers with "teeth"
Vice
Small deep socket
hammer




1. I first measured the male shaft to get an idea of how much brass rod I would need and marked it with a paint pen. Then I beveled the end of the rod to help me get it into the shaft.


2. In order to help prevent shaft twist, I decided to knurl the brass rod. To knurl the rod I placed a set of pliers in my vice and tried beating the rod down between the teeth of the pliers. The pliers moved (duh) and I ended up placing a deep socket under the pliers to stop it from moving down.


3. My first result came out OK but my later versions have the knurling much straigher, which is better.


4. After I got a piece I was happy with I put the shaft in the vice, hammered it home and cut off the excess.


5. After getting the shaft in you may need to do a little sanding on the shaft to help it ease in and out fo the female shaft. An alternative to doing this would be to take a little material off the brass rod before you knurl it.

Overall I'm happy with the setup. My shafts no longer pop in and out of the channels and it is a much tighter fit. They still are not bullet proof but this is simply one way to add a little strength to a plastic shaft.