FSAE Tripod - 18 Tooth Lightning Series

TRE Lightning Series 18T FSAE Tripod System

A compact FSAE tripod driveline system for lighter uprights, smaller integrated hub housings, and modern EV packaging.

Taylor Race Engineering has supported Formula SAE drivetrains since the early days of chain-drive differentials, tripod halfshafts, and integrated FSAE hub packages. The Lightning Series 18T FSAE Tripod System is our next-generation compact tripod package, designed specifically around the needs of modern Formula SAE and Formula Student cars.

Lightning Series is not a generic automotive joint repackaged for student racing. It is a TRE-designed 18-tooth tripod system built around our experiences with teams and supported by TRE shafts, housings, CAD, grease, boots, and drivetrain design guidance.

This smaller joint envelope enables lighter, more compact housings and opens the door to integrated wheel hub/tripod designs around smaller bearing packages — including 55 mm ID bearing layouts where legacy systems often forced larger packaging.

Key benefits

• Compact 18-tooth FSAE tripod architecture
• Smaller joint and housing envelope than legacy 20T FSAE tripod packages
• Enables compact integrated hub/tripod housing designs
• Supports 55 mm ID bearing-based corner packages
• Increased articulation margin versus the previous TRE FSAE tripod package
• Designed around FSAE EV and lightweight IC car packaging constraints
• Matching TRE halfshafts, housings, boots, grease, and CAD support
• Hardened steel forged body with 52100 bearing steel tripod rollers
• Supported by Taylor Race Engineering design experience

The Lightning Series system was developed because the tripod joint often defines the entire rear-corner package. A large tripod does not just make the joint heavier — it requires a larger tulip, larger hub, larger bearing, larger upright, and potentially more difficult brake or sprocket packaging.

By reducing the tripod package size, Lightning Series gives teams more freedom to design compact rear corners without giving up the serviceability and plunge behavior that make tripod joints attractive for Formula SAE.

Lightning Series is intended for Formula SAE and Formula Student driveline systems using short halfshafts, integrated hub/tulip housings, splined stub axle/hub systems, chain-drive differentials, compact EV powertrains, and lightweight rear-corner assemblies.

For best efficiency and life, teams should still keep halfshaft angles as low as practical and confirm plunge through full bump, droop, roll, and steer/compliance conditions.

STEP File Download

File includes example geometry for machining your own housing