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Alloy hubs and uprights
projectmkindy - 31/5/10 at 06:29 PM

Hi all

I am having to change my front wheel bearings on my indy blade. Since stripping it, i don't like the weight of the standard sierra hub and upright. Is there any alloy/aluminium based ones available as i would like to upgrade while dismantled.

Thanks
Phil

[Edited on 31/5/10 by projectmkindy]


eznfrank - 31/5/10 at 06:37 PM

I think raceleda made them but stopped due to apparent reliability issues. Last I heard MNR had some but I think they'll have all gone by now.


bi22le - 31/5/10 at 06:58 PM

rally design and rally design.
Hi spec supply hubs not sure about uprights.
HTH


rost - 31/5/10 at 07:10 PM

quote:
Originally posted by bi22le
rally design and rally design.
Hi spec supply hubs not sure about uprights.
HTH


Doesn't RD do alloy cortina uprights? Their sierra ones are cast iron iirc.


v8kid - 31/5/10 at 07:35 PM

Hi Spec hubs OK and have nice screw on covers included.

Make your own uprights - see various posts for designs.


projectmkindy - 31/5/10 at 08:23 PM

Thanks for replies,
Do the cortina hubs fit the same as the sierra as on hi spec i can only see escort, cortina but no sierra. Are there any engineering companies who could supply a copy of the standard uprights i ahve and make them say out of aluminium alloy.

Thanks


Staple balls - 31/5/10 at 08:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by projectmkindy
Are there any engineering companies who could supply a copy of the standard uprights i ahve and make them say out of aluminium alloy.


I'm sure there's lots, but why would you want to do that? The sierra uprights were made to be made out of iron, I can't see making them out of alu ending well.


projectmkindy - 31/5/10 at 09:57 PM

why?.. To save weight if they were designed for a sierra they should be over engineered when on an indy.
Can anyone confirm which hubs i need from hispec?

Thanks


Staple balls - 31/5/10 at 10:10 PM

I suspect you're kinda missing the point here.

The original ford uprights are more than up to the task on a light car like an indy.

But you can't just make the same thing out of a completely different material and expect them to work. Especially not in something so structural.

Personally, I'd take the extra say, 20lbs, over trying to save weight in something safety critical.


iank - 31/5/10 at 10:32 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Staple balls
I suspect you're kinda missing the point here.

The original ford uprights are more than up to the task on a light car like an indy.

But you can't just make the same thing out of a completely different material and expect them to work. Especially not in something so structural.

Personally, I'd take the extra say, 20lbs, over trying to save weight in something safety critical.


Plenty of tintops (mainly high end BMW/Audi etc) with aluminium uprights, so long as they are designed with the material in mind there's no problem.

Aluminium hubs are commonly available and a good halfway house on the road to weight saving.


Staple balls - 31/5/10 at 10:37 PM

quote:
Originally posted by iank
Plenty of tintops (mainly high end BMW/Audi etc) with aluminium uprights, so long as they are designed with the material in mind there's no problem.

Aluminium hubs are commonly available and a good halfway house on the road to weight saving.


Indeed.


projectmkindy - 1/6/10 at 12:53 AM

Right aluminium hubs it is then, i take it the cortina and sierra hubs are the same ?

Thanks


projectmkindy - 1/6/10 at 04:57 PM

Hispec wont supply the hubs just to let you know.

Thanks


ghostrain - 2/6/10 at 10:04 PM

The Cortina and Sierra hubs are completely different in their shape and the task asked of them...we looked at replacing the hub only of the Sierra upright with ally but the weight saving was minor against the bulk of the Sierra upright it also involved engineering complications not evident in the Cortina or Escort hubs.
The other problem for companies replacing the Sierra hubs is that the Sierra upright availability is not infinite...most of the new units that have been available are as a result of the demise of TVR and Ford have refused to supply any more. Rally Design has looked about tooling the Sierra upright but the slow sales just do not justify the tooling cost especially that the Cortina assembly or now the RS Escort stub axles are cheaply available. Be careful about directly replacing the Sierra steel hub with ally it is not strong enough without a redesign even on a lightweight kit...Paul at Spire Sportscars has spent some time looking at the implications.
Hope that helps


Hellfire - 3/6/10 at 08:12 PM

There is a weight saving to be had by replacing the brake discs and calipers with lightweight items, unless of course you already have these. Personally, I'd stay clear of aluminium upright replacements for Sierra items, even though I know of a few people who have used them with no ill effects.

Phil


mads - 7/6/10 at 12:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by projectmkindy
Right aluminium hubs it is then, i take it the cortina and sierra hubs are the same ?

Thanks


definitely not - i have learned this the hard way. if you do find someone who can do sierra alloy hubs, please let me know as i am after a pair.