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Edit: If you're finding this thread for the first time the group buy has ended. But don't despair, because of the great feedback here the hubs have taken off and I'm now offering them through BroFab a new start up business built around these hubs. So please checkout the website for any future hub needs!
Cracked hubs are a very real problem on Miata's with high grip. Once you progress to spec Miata levels of grip (R7's) or even with the latest crops of 225/245 200TW street tires the front hubs become a disposable item often requiring yearly replacements to avoid the dreaded cracked hub and totaled car. Recently there has been a great billet hub solution brought to market and have been a savior for a lot of race teams and serious privateers. For the average weekend warrior they are simply priced out of being an option.
I’m an engineer, fabricator and all-around car nut who enjoys making more than purchasing and decided to come up with a cost effect hub solution and have been tracking, auto-xing and street driving a prototype for 2 years now. I started with an off the shelf e30 hub, as you can see the hub is much beefier than the Miata hub and has been proven reliable for years on track cars across the world.
This kit includes a set of modified bearings (three choices), stud conversion, hub adapter, spindle sleeve and HD washer as well as a new spindle nut. These adapters combine to create a crack proof wheel bearing that allows all standard Miata brake hardware to bolt up. Wheel offset is not altered and once installed functions exactly the same as stock….but without the risk of cracking. My original goal was to use off the shelf bearings that could be purchased at any parts store but unfortunately there is a lip that needs machined / ground / cut off the bearing to allow for all the stock Miata brake hardware to work. I provide the modification in the kit but if you wanted to modify your own bearings for future replacement it can easily be done since the cut can be made with almost anything.
Economy Kit (pair) This will include:
Drivestar bearings machined to fit Spindle spacer and washer Custom Wheel spacers New spindle nut Economy screw in wheel studs or Bimmerworld studs
Price: 350$ shipped in the continental US 390$ shipped with the bimmer world studs
My thoughts are this kit will attract the track rat that has the grip but not the cash and doesn't mind changing bearings out every now and then when they get noisy. You can buy 5 drivestar bearings for the price of a single SKF/*** unit and I’ve yet to wear one out in 20+ hrs of track time 25 auto-x events and 10k street miles. Main objective is to eliminate the chance of cracked hubs on the car.
Racer Kit (pair) This will include:
Your choice of Timkin or OEM BMW bearings machined to fit (still looking for a better deal on these)* Spindle spacer and washer Custom Wheel spacers New spindle nut Shouldered bimmerworld studs
Price: 600$ shipped in the continental US with Timkin bearings 675$ shipped in the continental US with OEM BMW bearings
The objective of this kit is to supply the best parts available for the E30 to ensure that a noisy bearing won’t end a race early. This kit will also have the beefier bimmerworld studs that Cwatson has attested to being a more durable option. Crack prevention of course is ensured as well.
* I'm having a hard time finding a better source for SKF, *** or OEM bearings, seems all the reasonably priced places for the SKF or *** bearings are sold out at the moment. My costs are the same no matter what bearing is selected, just trying to pass the savings on to the consumer.
Spare machined bearings will be priced as:
Drivestar: 27$ Ea. plus shipping Timkin: 127$ Ea. plus shipping OEM BWM: 175$ Ea. plus shipping
I have been able to adapt the Miata ABS tone ring to the E30 bearings so please contact me if this is something you need.
This initial group buy will be for 10 sets, I just need to know your name, bearing and stud preference and I'll order the bearings and studs and hopefully turn them around in 1-2 weeks, payment will be due at time of shipment.
There is no warranty per say on these kits, but these are new to market so I am offering a 6 months no questions asked full refund if you decide you don't like them for any reason. This will most likely change going forward.
1. sonofthehill economy bearings with bimmerworld studs please. paid/shipped 2. bahurd economy bearings with bimmerworld studs please. paid/shipped 3. 99mx5 economy bearings with bimmerworld studs please. 4. TheBandit economy bearings with bimmerworld studs please.paid/shipped 5. BigEasy economy bearings with bimmerworld studs please. paid/shipped 6. Leboeuf economy bearings with bimmerworld studs please. paid/shipped 7. pcormier66 race kit timken with bimmerworld studs paid/shipped 8. portabull economy bearings with bimmerworld studs pleasepaid/shipped 9. Sierra_Bravo economy bearings with bimmerworld studs please.paid/shipped 10.Gee Emm - economy bearing bimmerworld studs paid
If you read through my thread in the race section cwatson has some feedback that they get longer life out of them. They cost 10$ per stud vs. 5$ for the economy studs.
Ok i'm in on an economy kit with Bimmerworld studs, BUT i'm not likely to do anything with my car this year. So i am pre-emptively offering to bump myself to the next Group Buy if this one fills.
05-11-2019, 10:16 AM
Group Buy: E30 Hub Conversion
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