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Yup, have another 20 sets of spacers on order, so I'm good up to 30 spots at the moment as long as I can find a source of poverty bearings. I grabbed a WJB branded cheap bearing from Rockauto to check out and it looks solid, machining is more similar to the timkin than the drivestar that I've tested. If folks don't mind trying these out they are in stock. Anyone past spot 15 would be in this boat unless the drivestar come back into stock.
I'm about 99% sure they at least get the raw castings from China, it was printed on the bearing. It was so close to the timkin it's uncanny. Which by the way the timkin bearing had *** printed on the bearing.
Which by the way the timkin bearing had *** printed on the bearing.
When I was an engineering tech for a certain US ball bearing mfg we were having trouble building bearings for a part shipped to Digital Equipment so we sourced them from Mueller (German). My bosses would only let me bring the tech rep in via the direct lab entrance vs through the plant (as though they didn’t know how to make bearings...).
Behold, poverty e30 hub on another Miata.
Ditching that scronny little thing.
I didn't use any bearing retaining compound, or anything except a thin layer of grease, between the axle and the sleeve. Hoping to be able to swap back if I want (no idea why I would want that?) I also didn't repack the bearings with any special grease, as that is how I think Bronson did it. The inside of the sleeve has a nice radius to match the axle, I torqued it to 125 ft/lbs. Went together very nicely, I assumed that the cone shaped side of the washer faces in. I am also guessing that the new dust cover is the spacer, not sure if I am supposed to use the old ones(or new ones) underneath?
Overall I am very impressed so far!
Thanks Bronson!
Unfortunately for being the the first paying customer you got thrown to the wolfs with no instructions or guidance of any kind. Luckily you figured it out, directions say to use a thin coat of grease on the sleeve with the taper towards the spindle, torque to Miata specs and the spacer becomes the dust cap. I didn't bother to repack the bearings......working just fine.
For the rest of you, there's a nice color installation guide with lots of pictures. Bearings should be here tomorrow so expect to be hearing from me throughout the week as I get them ready to ship.
Uh oh, unfortunately I ran into my first snag. I think the tolerance might be a little too tight for my stock NB wheels, just a smidge.
I tried to tighten it down, bad idea, had a heck of a time getting the wheel back off. I knew I shouldn't have tried this right before a race day
Uh oh, unfortunately I ran into my first snag. I think the tolerance might be a little too tight for my stock NB wheels, just a smidge.
I tried to tighten it down, bad idea, had a heck of a time getting the wheel back off. I knew I shouldn't have tried this right before a race day
Well ****, what wheels do you have? Can you throw a set of calipers on he snout?
Just so everyone knows, Bronson has already reached out to me to make this right. I also understand this kind of thing happens with the first runs of a cool new product.
I will take a measurement in the morning, I have the 15" 5 spoke NB wheels.
The Japanese engineer would’ve used the ISO fit system then. Hub dia is 54.1 and if they used a F8/h7 fit basis the factory hub tolerance would be Max 54.1- Min 54.07 with a wheel centering hub diameter of 54.176 - 54.13
We don’t actually know what fit tolerance they used
What diameter/tolerance are you making your hub snout?
This is what I get for waiting a few days to check in on this thread. Shwoops! That's ok though. I have zero time to get these on any time soon anyway.
21. thegrapist economy bearings, bimmerworld studs 22. turbofan poverty bearings, bimmerworld studs. Interested in ABS rings but not strictly required right now. 23. moocow: poverty bearings, economy studs.
24. x_25: poverty bearings, economy studs.