I did a search on axles for the Raptor and it seems that most people think the Lone Star is better than the eliminator. Does anyone have any scientific evidence about which is stronger or is it all anecdotal?

I'm from Canada and Dura Blue doesn't cover bent axles outside the US, only broken one's it appears. Emailed Lone Star to check their policy.

I was leaning to Lone Star but my concern's are as follows:

- Some guys have mentioned that the wheel hubs don't fit well on the Lone Star and get "egged out". I haven't heard this with Dura Blue.

- Lonestar uses the stock axle nuts (correct?) which doesn't seem as good as Dura Blue's locking nut.

- Durablue width increase is +3 or +5 whereas Lone Star's is +3 only.


What's everbody's opinion? Does anyone know for sure which is stronger? Is the hub issue a real concern or only a few isolated incidences? Is the use of the stock axle nuts a problem?

I've had my 01 Raptor since October 2000. My axle isn't bent so I don't think I could bend/break either axle...but you never know (still want to get the stronger one)! My axle nuts have never come loose so I'm not too concerned about this but maybe it's more of a concern with aftermarket axles? I would probably also go with the +3 width even if I went Dura Blue.

I know this is rather long but I figured I'd lay it out and see what everbody thought. I guess the "egged out" hubs is my main concern with the Lone Star.

Any help is appreciated.

P.S. I think the RPM Dominator is out of my price range.

 

I am not absolutely sure, but I think that the Quad Shop has the RPM axle for $355! That is a good price, if it is true.

Swytak just bought one from them - you may want to check with him on it. The Quad Shop has some of the best prices around!

 

If you want to ride, get RPM or Lonestar. If you want to replace it, go with Durablue. That simple

 

I've said this before, and it's definitely worth repeating.

I went with Lonestar almost a year and a half ago and have regretted my decision ever since. On my axle, and with others from what I've read here, the stock hubs don't fit properly on the axle splines. There is some slop in there which allows the hubs to twist under torque. This twisting loosens the nuts that hold the hubs on, no matter how tight you go with the nut or what you do with the cotter pin. I called LoneStar, and they said I could send the axle back to them (at my cost for forward and return shipping) and they could build up the chrome around the splines which would get rid of the problem (the chroming would cost additoinal money). I asked them why this extra chroming wasn't done to begin with, and their reply was that the chroming and heat treating processes are not exact, so they can't guarantee that their axle will fit the stock hubs snug enough to prevent this constant loosening. Maybe they've figured out a way to make these processes more exact by now. Their other option was to buy their $150 hubs, which would fix the problem.

So, if you want to tighten the nuts on your hubs every ten minutes of riding time, by all means go with the LoneStar. Either that or I'd ask them to guarantee you that the hubs will fit properly and stay snug if you torque the nuts to their specifications.

 

They're both top notch axles. I myself have the durablue heavyduty axle(I didnt want to widen my machine because all I do is straight line drags) and I love it. Good luck on your decision.

 

I have had both and I think they both SUCK!

The LS is narrower and I had to grind deeper grooves in the castle nuts to get the pin through.
No matter how tight I cranked them the splines did "egg out" my wheel hubs.
The LS uses the stock axle nuts which seemed ok with red locktite.

The DB is wider but the 2 piece span nut has a WEAK little allen bolt to pinch them together.
I easily stripped the allen head of the stock pinch bolt. I got a case hardened bolt to replace the weak one. I also used RED locktite and it DID come lose. I keep an eye on it.

I would take a gamble and get the RPM!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

the only help i can provide is that lonestar will only straighten your axle if you bend it (they dont replace it), and i know nothing about dura-blue (but i know the wheel spacers i had on my blaster from them rocked).
If it were me (oh wait i am in the same position) I would save up a little more for the RPM (that is what i am doing)

 

I was running my stock axle and 2.5" Dura Blue spacers on my Rap and bent the hell out of it. I replaced it with a Dura Blue Eliminator and have been happy since. Or at least I haven't had any probs yet and I'm pretty hard on mine. I do a lot of MX riding and it seems to be holding up. Hope this helps.

 

I went with the LSR Axcaliber axle as well as A-arms. Im very happy with the decision. The reason I went Lonestar, besides the fact that I got the stuff discounted 30%, was because we installed the Eliminator on another raptor a couple of months prior. That axle snapped clean in half on the mx track. The rider did an evasive jump avoiding another rider and came down badly. He barely got 3 feet of air.....whats with that!! (apparently It was from a bad batch...)
DB did replace it. (he's on his own if it happens again)

I did have some minor issues after installing the LSR axle on my bike. Initially I couldnt tighten the nuts that hold the wheel hubs on properly, and they kept sitting loose. That was before I realised that there are 2 positions available for the split pin to fasten. (Originally I would fasten the nut fully and then couldnt put the pin thru, so losened it slightly so that all would align. Later after fastening the nut fully, I found the 2nd hole)
All fits perfectly now.

The only real issue I had was the LSR locknut. It is made of ali, so not very strong. I put that on, and it just kept coming loose after every ride. I took it off to discover that the thread inside the locknut had stripped. I have since put the original locknuts back on, and no furher problems. I looked on LSR's website to discover that they have changed the design of the raptor locknut. It is now a double locknut instead of a single one like I got, so they obviously had problems with that design. I live overseas, so it is too much of a hassle to replace it.

Lonestar is guaranteed not to break. It can bend, but they can straighten it without the metal loosing any of its original strength/qualities. It is made of high grade aircraft steel.

Im not trying to sell LS, I have just read and seen too many DB axles breaking. I havent seen this RPM unit. From what you guys are saying, its sounds like the best.

 

I have a DuraBlue axle on my 400EX and the thing is junk. The first one that I got from them broke as I was putting in on the quad, I was putting the axle nut on and the end of the axle broke. I send it back to them and they said that I over tighen the nut. I had to pay shipping both ways and they then said that my lift time guarrante was only on the 1st axle. The next time it would cost me $150 for the replacement. After play riding the 1st day I noticed that the axle has a slight wobble in it. I wish that I would have looked when I first put it on.
When I was watching at some of the MX races this year the axles that were breaking were all DuraBlue.