Back Axle

[Team Gridlock]

Is the Firenza axle the same as the Magnum and is it a direct fit for the HB viva with the shorter arms please?

[hbpeter]

As far as I know yes it is on both accounts. The only axle that was different was the HPF one.

Peter

[Team Gridlock]

Thanks Peter, whats the HPF one please?

[hbpeter]

HPF, Droopsnoot, think it has a LSD and different casing, still should fit if you can find one. Someone else whos knows better will be along soon to confirm this!

Peter

[pbottomley]

Dont bother with a snooty 052 axle, tooo heavy and too pricey

[Team Gridlock]

Not to worried about weight, will probably end up with Ford 9" sometime down the road anyway. Just want something stronger for the meantime thats an easy fit. LSD is a plus.

[droopsnoot]

I don't think the 052 has a built-in LSD. As I recall it (like most other snoot stuff) has its origins in an older vehicle, I think a narrowed van axle but I forget which one.

[MattyE]

yeah, its a modified CA van axle!

as far as i know its a modified CA van diff unit with one off halfshalfts - as previously stated its stronger than a magnum axle, but rare as hell so if you do manage to break it....

personally for big power the 4HA axle (scimitar SE5a) is the way to go, Jag powerlok LSDs fit in em - heavy yes, but fairly cheap and plentifull with loads of ratios available - I remember reading somewhere that ian jemison engineering have a jig to weld on the neccesary brackets to convert to viva fitment (think they did this for Dave Ruddock's rally viva)

[Team Gridlock]

been offered a snoot axle with LSD supposedly, wondered whether it would be a good intermediate axle and a quick easy swap

[droopsnoot]

A quick read on the DSG forum says that the 052 is only good for about 200bhp top end, also it seems that there's a need for a shortened propshaft due to the length of the axle. I haven't been under the back end for a while so I can't say that's 100% true, also mine has a non-standard single piece prop so different again.