From searching past threads, I've found that people have been wanting to hear and see this. I have broken a brand new set of DSS stage 2 axles. The axles had 220 miles on them (20 miles on daily street driving as with a few dyno runs, and approx 200miles on the hwy driving to the dragstrip). Anyway when I first put the axles on, they seemed real nice and strong. The only aspect I didn't like about them was the unsteakable axle nuts which were supplied by DSS.
Anyway during the first 20miles I noticed that tons of axle grease was spraying all over the inside of my wheels, knuckles, and brakes. I checked for any rips, etc... however I could find nothing. I called DSS and they gladly told me that they will send me out a new set. I also told DSS that I was going to attend a test and tune in a few days so I might have to race on these axles. They stated to me that the new axles will probably not arrive in time, however the axles should be ok to race on since the condition was nothing critical since it’s probably just a bad boot clip which is leaking grease. Anyway so I packed an extra set of stock Honda axles as insurance and took off to the track. I raced with 22x8x15 MT on stock wheels which I have used on 10 other drag runs with stock axles. My power is 280whp and 200trq with a weight of 2400 with driver. Tire pressure was also 9psi.
The first run with a 6000rpm launch was all tire spin (spun 1st badly, spun 2nd badly, got grip in 3rd) since I over power these tiny slicks. Second run with same pressure, launch, etc... upon launch the car didn't move when the clutch was released, just revved like it was in neutral. Heck the tree still had both yellow staging lights lit after I tried to launch. I pushed car back and checked it all out. Yeah the passenger side axle was snapped at the shaft going to the knuckle. So I pulled the busted DSS out and swapped in an old Honda axle and also put in some slightly wider slicks which I originally wanted to try with the DSS axles since they were "stronger". I did two more runs and the stock Honda axle held up fine just as my old stock Honda axles did in the past. Heck I even launched harder and with lower tire pressures and spun the slicks even more.
Anyway I'm not attacking DSS at all. I'm merely showing people what happened to me with new DSS stage 2 axles and with my power, weight, and tire setup. DSS was really good at sending new replacements which should be here in a day or so and when I call them on Monday, I'm sure they will handle the matter as well as they did earlier with the axles spraying grease. I just don't know how they can break like this when DSS claims they handle 400whp. Heck I didn't even launch hard or even push it hard since all I was doing was over powering and spinning the slicks. I only make 280whp and 200trq and with really small 8x22x15" slicks and spinning them like hell so it’s not like they are grabbing hard. What’s even odder is that the metal core of the shaft appears to be very brittle. Anyway I'm not pointing fingers because I have yet to talk to DSS about this. I just saw that people wanted to see and hear if anyone has broken a DSS stage 2 axles.

Here's what the broken shaft looks like:

I'll post a picture of the axle itself once I grab it from the shop.

Oh yeah as for people who ask why I changed to DSS axles instead of my stock Honda axles which have been working great, a few weeks ago my stock axles broke in a unrealeated incident from hitting an object in the road, so I was forced to get new axles. I got DSS because for almost the same price (yes I got a good deal) I could try out DSS stage 2 axles. As everyone knows I like to test products out for myself.


[Modified by Rboosted717, 4:35 PM 1/5/2003]

 

no surprise there
your best bet is to upgrade to prelude 36mm hubs

 

Been there, done that. Of course, this was a stock axle (w/ less than 10k miles on it). I snapped this one at the track (2nd launch). LS/VTEC w/ maybe 180-185 whp (have not yet dyno'd), 2550 lbs. w/out me in it, 205/40/17 at a full 33psi. I snapped it's replacement on the street not 3 months later. That one, however, suffered a more painful destruction: it shattered the CV joint (into what sounded like the liquid terminator when it was frozen and had a shotgun shell pumped into it) when I hit 2nd gear on the way to work one morning. I guess I just have bad axle luck!

 

ugh, definitely not the first time I've seen this. Unfortunately there are others out there who have the same thing occur.

I've have some stage 3's waiting to go on my prelude for months. Boy do I hope they hold up.


One great thing though, DSS has awesome customer service; which goes a long way in my book. If they break, they break. Nothing is indestructible; especially with cars!

Best of luck with the turnout....

 

Hey Mike, Don't you have another review for the guys here? as per our conversation.