Front Hubs

[Mike Mileski]

Aren't Europa front hubs the same as Triumph Spitfires? If so, here's a place that sells aluminum Spitfire hubs. If they're not the same, sorry for the confusion.

http://www.chequeredflagracing.net/Custom_Parts.php

Mike Mileski
Tucson, AZ

[EuropaTC]

Hi Mike,

A guarded "yes they are".

AFAIK the early Triumph  Spitfire & Herald used the same hubs, bearings and stub axles as our cars (or should that be the other way round ?    ) whereas the GT6 and others used a larger stub axle and bigger bearings. The hubs look the same at a casual glance, so it's a case of making sure you get the right hub/bearing combination if you don't want to end up with a bigger shopping list.

Brian

[Serge]

Yes, the Spitfire/ Herald hub is the same as the one on our Europa's. There are quite a few companies that sell those hubs, and at a much better price than the one you mention.

Examples:

https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/s/suspension-steering/alloy-hubs-and-bearings/alloy-hubs

http://www.paceproducts.co.uk/public_html/php/products_info.php?productID=access/hubs&parent=2

http://www.canleyclassics.com/?xhtml=xhtml/product/alloyhubs.html&xsl=product.xsl

But I have heard some mixed comments about the use of these hubs. I read somewhere that the aluminium was too soft for hard use (fast road/track) and that a wobble would develop inside of the hub. Maybe those issues have been rectified since, but I would do some more research before committing to buy.


Kind regards,

Serge
#460002
http://sleurs-motorsport.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/sleursmotorsport

[Chuck Nukem]

I realize this is a very old thread, but I am curious if anyone out there is running aluminum hubs? I found one guy who makes a set out of 7xxx aluminum which would be substantially better suited to this application than 6061. 7075 has roughly twice the tensile strength, 1.5 the shear strength and roughly 1.5 times the hardness of 6061. What do you guys think?

[jbcollier]

I'm running the Canley ones with no issues.  It is not a particularly stressed part.  Uprights?  Spindles?  Those are stressed.  Hub?  Not so much.

[EuropaTC]

Not a Lotus but I used similar aluminium front hubs on a Marcos 1800 (GT6 suspension) for several years. I only used it on the road but the guy I sold it to went on to modify it for track use (basically take out the interior, replace glass with plastic, make a lighter front end, put webers on) and ended up winning his series class. 

So if you're careful fitting bearings/studs I'd reckon they are fine.

Brian

[Clifton]

I would say it depends on the use. I ran Wilwood aluminum hubs on a 240Z that I autocrossed and many others used the same hubs and never had a problem. Miata guys crack front hubs all the time and many people crack Advanti Storm and 6UL wheels. This is all from track use. Sticky tires and high G's change everything. I would try them though.