Sprint half shafts and hubs

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tom16v
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Sprint half shafts and hubs

#1 Post by tom16v »

So I had a rear axe rebuilt for my fast road Sprint with a gripper LSD in. The diff is a wonderful thing. It has asymmetric ramp angles and multiple plates, but not much preload so it is really very controllable. It’s so much better than the unit in my M3 and makes the car so controllably playful. 😍👌
Anyway, I have tried 2 sets of half shafts and hubs in it now and nothing is straight. I’m not completely sure whether the half shafts are all bent at the nose, or all the hubs are machined badly, but they all have concentric run out and side to side run out on the hubs when fitted. As I have poly bushes on the car I can feel this as a vibration at speed. It also makes it impossible to use a 4 wheel tracker as the back points a different way every time the car is moved. 🙈
Anyway. I can’t find anyone wanting to make new uprated half shafts, so I was considering possibly trying to customise the arrangement completely. I know the small chassis folk use MGF hubs and uprights to modify spits. I was wondering if this unit could be hacked away and machined to fit the end of the axle tube. That would give a proper twin wheel bearing and the hub should be straight. Then maybe a standard shaft machined down with splines rather than taper to fit the F hub. 🤔
I wondered if anyone could see anything completely wrong with that idea before I buy an old F upright and start some more measuring?

Cheers

Tom.
1979 Carmine Dolomite Sprint
1974 Saphire Dolomite Sprint (Soon to be tastefully modified)
2005 Mystic blue BMW M3
2004 Mystic Blue 330d
2001 Peugeot 206 Hdi180
Carledo
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Re: Sprint half shafts and hubs

#2 Post by Carledo »

The MGF hub is for IRS, as is the Spitfire and other small chassis cars. Don't think you'd have a lot of luck making the hub fit and the shaft certainly won't!

Steve
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.
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gmsclassics
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Re: Sprint half shafts and hubs

#3 Post by gmsclassics »

Have you tried 3J Drive line? While most of their stuff is for Ford they do make a TR6 lsd and do make their own axles. Would the Club want any as well?

I had lots of issues with std Sprint half shafts bending and letting oil into the drum, then a modification to use bearings on the half shaft mid points failed, so I ended up with a Capri axle modified to use the Sprint mounting points. 3J Drive line were very helpful in providing modified hubs to suit Sprint pcd. Their axles were very substantial.
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