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Author: Subject: Towing a rolling chassis?
eznfrank

posted on 25/5/08 at 11:47 AM Reply With Quote
Towing a rolling chassis?

A bit OT I know but I'm after a bit of advice if poss.

A mate of mine has a Vauxhall Nova which he is taking to a bodyshop place next week for some strengthening plates welding in. There is no engine in the car at the moment so he has bought one of those solid towing bars and wants me to sit in it and steer. It's only 1/4 of a mile or so to the place but what I'm most bothered about is the flanges pulling off the hubs given that the driveshafts won't be holding them in.

I've seen this happen on Sierra rear hubs before but he insists they won't pull of whilst driving although he couldn't explain why he thought that.

Any thoughts??

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MkIndy7

posted on 25/5/08 at 11:54 AM Reply With Quote
To just push mine onto a trailer and move round the painters, I rigged up a piece of 1" 1/2 drainpipe that was held rigid to the chassis where the steering rack went and then each driveshaft went into the end of the drainpipe.

I'm not too sure i'd like to tow it like that but was fine to push around, you could maybe beef it up and use some steel tube to hold the shafts up but you'd have to think up some sort of bearing or grease them verry well to stop the shafts rubbing on the inside of the tube.

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Mole

posted on 25/5/08 at 11:56 AM Reply With Quote
That sound like a better idea. I would have thought the hubs could come off.
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MikeRJ

posted on 25/5/08 at 12:22 PM Reply With Quote
Taking it on the road with no CV's to hold the drive flange into the bearing is really not a good idea IMO.

Why not take the outer CV's off the driveshafts and fit them?

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Paul TigerB6

posted on 25/5/08 at 12:22 PM Reply With Quote
Get him to sit in it and steer!! I wouldnt want to be in it - as you say there is nothing to stop the hubs coming out of the bearings!!! My Tiger used a pair of adaptors bolted into replace the driveshafts
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clairetoo

posted on 25/5/08 at 12:32 PM Reply With Quote
Let him do it - just be sure to have a camera handy





Its cuz I is blond , innit

Claire xx

Will weld for food......

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MikeR

posted on 25/5/08 at 04:12 PM Reply With Quote
whats the legality of this?

As the tow car towing a potentially unsafe load and the towee in an unsafe vehicle?

Is it taxed / MOT'd / Insured?

Chance of being pulled in 1/4 mile is almost zero, but if you where, with the police now having targets and quotas. you might find the book being thrown at you.

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eznfrank

posted on 25/5/08 at 05:00 PM Reply With Quote
Sorry, I might not have explained that very well. Just for the record I have no intention of steering the car like that and was more looking for suggestions, however, I also wanted a few other people with the same thoughts as me so I can go back to him and say "Yes it is confirmed you are in fact a kn0b!"
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Bob C

posted on 25/5/08 at 05:03 PM Reply With Quote
The brake calipers should keep your wheels on . . . . . ;^)
Just find a big bolt & some washers to hold the bearings in place - I think I'd trust M12s

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rusty nuts

posted on 25/5/08 at 08:39 PM Reply With Quote
If its only a 1/4 of a mile push it . There may? be some doubt as to whether its a motor car or not as it has no engine? At least if you get stopped you are taking it to a place of repair so you may be OK with no tax and MOT but you may still need insurance WHICH covers YOU
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