I have helped set up a number of Summers Bros axle upgrades. there are about 8
of us now using them with no failures to report. I can supply contact
information and even the "job number" so you can have a set made up. There are
some bearings and seals you'll need to source and I have numbers for them as
well as some machine work on the rear trunions to bore them out. You should be
able to find someone locally that can do it or I can run them through my shop.
It's a real slick setup and uses cheap corvair yokes and corvette u-joints. I
use aircraft alloy hardware but likely grade 8 would be just fine.
Not installing will allow you the opportunity of scratching your rollbar. Been
there done that! Once is enough!
Russ Moore
Spitfire #49
-----Original Message-----
From: Susan <spitfiresuz@141.com>
Sent: Nov 1, 2004 6:22 PM
To: triumph_marx@freenet.de
Cc: fot@Autox.Team.Net
Subject: Re: Loosing a wheel
Hi Chris!
A lot of the problems with losing wheels (at least in a Spitfire) stem
from people adding power to the engine and putting "sticky" tires on the
car, and not doing anything to upgrade the suspension. These cars were
not manufactured with today's modern tires in mind -- remember that bias
ply tires were standard (at least for TR3's and 4's) back when they were
produced, plus the axles were not produced to competition specs.
What we have done with our Spitfire is to replace the rear axles with
competition-rated axles and have them magnafluxed regularly. These
axles have been upgraded, beefed up in the areas they were weak, and
constructed out of harder steel than the originals. The trunnions have
also been modified to hold off-the-shelf bearings. I have not broken an
axle since I got the car in 1998 (and it ran for a good while with 8
1/2" cantilevered slicks before I got it!). I have heard Summer
Brothers is producing these axles again, but do not know how to contact
them. You should ask the list if you are interested. We also use
hardened bolts to connect the axles to the diff carrier.
For the TR3/TR4 cars, Southwick makes a nice competition axle that uses
your old housing. They adapt the axle to be sturdier for racing. Quite
a few of the 3 & 4 racers on this list use this axle. There are also
replacement stub axles for the front of the car, again, not sure who
makes them but the list will know.
I hope this helps!
Susan :)
#42 FP Spitfire Tristan
triumph_marx@freenet.de wrote:
>What do you need to loose a wheel?
>Slick tires or is a Yoko A032 just strong enough to brake a wheel of?
>
>What does this occure? Driving over curbs?
>
>Chris
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