Custom Rear Hubs, Bearings & Discs

[Jeemy]

I am sorry, I am VERY busy just now. I am working til 3am most nights, and haven't had time to go through this with a fine-tooth comb.

I thought it would quieten down but its got busy again. There's nothing I can do, as soon as client priorities stop, I will do a proper update.

Where we are just now is they are half-way through the machining, and will have a firm date for completion to me later this week.

Best,

Jamie

[Jeemy]

Sorry to be brusque, its impossible to communicate how busy I am through July & August with the Edinburgh Festival. I do the same amount of work I usually do in a week, each day.

Also I should say, I think I have everybody's payments/deposits, anybody I don't, don't worry, I will contact you soon, its my slackness not your fault! Anybody not marked up but who has paid don't worry also, I will have a record.

I have done some work in the background on discs and hope to have info to publish this week about the PNM 15 and 16" kits, and OEM replacement, and later on, to get update on how (if) to make Hi-Spec back brakes work.

I think thats everything. Can't wait to get back into working on my Elan and speaking to you all properly.

[Jeemy]

Hi Jamie,

The main machining is almost finished, we will be milling the internal slots and stud holes next week. They will go into the clean room assembly for fitting bearings and seals week beginning 26th August so we can ship them out that week.

[Jeemy]

OK Guys, I am finally back on top of everything.

Firstly let me apologise for my slack communication over the last 2 months. Here in Edinburgh we have a little Festival during August - I provide most of the print for this and there is no way of getting skilled enough workers to cover the time for just 2 months of the year - so I have to do it myself.

Despite best intentions, everything goes absolutely crazy, I sleep in my office, I work 16-20 hours a day and everything else goes out of the window, so I have to apologise for that.

Getting the list updated meant sifting through all the work I've done recently; literally hundreds of paypal payments, bank transfers, cheques to be updated and reconciled.

That said, the timescales posted on the Group Buy are still applicable; in the background I paid all monies to the engineering firm and everything was meant to be finished this last week. I am expecting a notification imminently, or a delivery without notice just as imminently; they are not the best communicators.

As discussed with leeway I expected to take delivery of these approx Fri 23rd August. Having not collected the bulk of the payments until almost 2 weeks after the initial date of Fri 19th July, I then expected this date to push back to something like the 6th September. This date was with leeway, I don't expect there to be any, nonetheless, its not 100% certain on delivery date yet.

Now I am back to LEC daily, I'll be keeping the thread updated properly.

There have been a few minor developments; I was meant to receive a test set before I paid the next chunk off, and this has not arrived, but I will try to test a set out before I accept and pay for the full shipment.

Secondly, djcar your PM with address, I can't see it, and your PayPal payment did not contain your address.

So here is the updated list, apologies for the formatting; if anybody knows a good way of depositing Excel lists, please advise.

Name No Payment Status Address Status
1 Jeemy - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
2 Nobby - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
3 theelanman Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
4 tb10 (N/A) Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
5 tb10 (S2 #790) Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
6 tb10 (S2 #711) Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
7 Nippy Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
8 Propshaft Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
9 davidcgriffiths - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
10 Karl Martin Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
x lansledj CANCELLED CANCELLED
11 djcar Full Payment Received No Address Yet
12 Rambo - collecting - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
13 ESM - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received No Address Yet
14 paulsmithmk Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
15 paul27848 Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
16 Steve Matthews (no bearings) No Payment Received No Address Yet
17 basher Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
18 Fredjohn - deposit rec'd Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
19 Paulous Deposit Received No Address Yet
20 hodge Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
21 MacII International Shipping Quote Pending Approval Shipping Address Received

As payments incoming ran up to 2 weeks late, I am revising the payment due dates until the 13th September. Of course you can pay earlier, but firm cut-off will be Sept 20th.

I was expecting an update on the finished order earlier this week, but it did not come, I have chased today. They are finished as far as I know!

There are 2 additional sets. These are available to Sandra, lansledj, or anybody else who has previously posted here and dropped out, on first refusal. LEC members on second refusal. After this, I'll put one up for sale at a Buy It Now of £230,and the other at auction starting £195. Any profit, 50% will go to LEC coffers. If they sell quick, this will allow me to put a second Group Buy up with a bit more confidence.

Once more, I apologise unreservedly for being slack on the feedback. I appreciate this could have looked dodgy, only because of the history of this stuff. I would re-iterate once more, I am a trading business, fully contactable and registered with all relevant bodies - there is NO risk of me disappearing! Again, shouldn't have to be said, but history is a bitch.

I intended to be back on top of things a lot sooner than now. I've gone on long enough about the horrible working hours, probably too much, please forgive me, etc ^^.

SO next step is discs. I am not going to clutter this thread and have made a new thread about discs here.

I'm going to parse through my 100s of PMs since this started, and post up what I know, and continue to work to get best disc solution for these worked out ongoing.

Everybody concerned in this group buy should now have a PM from me with your tax/VAT invoice, confirmation of your shipping details, and a chase on payment if not paid already, and an update with the new final payment deadlines if you have only paid a deposit. Any problems, PM me - I WILL answer quickly now, I am back on top of things!

All best,

Jamie

Name No Payment Status Address Status
1 Jeemy - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
2 Nobby - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
3 theelanman Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
4 tb10 (N/A) Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
5 tb10 (S2 #790) Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
6 tb10 (S2 #711) Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
7 Nippy Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
8 Propshaft Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
9 davidcgriffiths - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
10 Karl Martin Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
x lansledj CANCELLED CANCELLED
11 djcar Full Payment Received No Address Yet
12 Rambo - collecting - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
13 ESM - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received No Address Yet
14 paulsmithmk Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
15 paul27848 Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
16 Steve Matthews (no bearings) No Payment Received No Address Yet
17 basher Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
18 Fredjohn - deposit rec'd Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
19 Paulous Deposit Received No Address Yet
20 hodge Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
21 MacII International Shipping Quote Pending Approval Shipping Address Received

[Jeemy]

Update to include ESM's address now received, and paulous' address was already on the payment paypal & invoice, my bad. Invoice sent to ESM.

Name No Payment Status Address Status
1 Jeemy - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
2 Nobby - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
3 theelanman Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
4 tb10 (N/A) Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
5 tb10 (S2 #790) Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
6 tb10 (S2 #711) Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
7 Nippy Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
8 Propshaft Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
9 davidcgriffiths - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
10 Karl Martin Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
x lansledj CANCELLED CANCELLED
11 djcar Full Payment Received No Address Yet
12 Rambo - collecting - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
13 ESM - full payment rec'd Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
14 paulsmithmk Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
15 paul27848 Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
16 Steve Matthews (no bearings) No Payment Received No Address Yet
17 basher Full Payment Received Shipping Address Received
18 Fredjohn - deposit rec'd Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
19 Paulous Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
20 hodge Deposit Received Shipping Address Received
21 MacII International Shipping Quote Pending Approval Shipping Address Received

Update on the production is that samples are ready for shipping but bearings are not inserted, they will do this as a one-step operation in the sealed room. So if I am to receive and check a sample, I need to do it sans bearings. Imperfect but I think a check is better so will proceed with the check.

[Jeemy]

Sample with bearings is on its way!

[Rambo]

Thanks for the update and well done to date Jamie. Maybe this will spur me on to doing a full front and back upgrade as I'm still on OEM calipers etc... despite being Everested about 7 years ago

[Jeemy]

Just to clarify something. Firstly thanks for the kind words from most people. But I just wanted to be sure if anybody is staying silent, that nobody else misread the following sentence.

I recently sent a mail out to each person participating in the Group Buy. It contained the sentence:

I've got your deposit, and full payment was originally required by 30th August 2013.

I didn't mean "I've got your deposit, and full payment was originally required by 30th August 2013 so its now overdue."

I meant, "I've got your deposit, and full payment was originally required by 30th August 2013 but as the deadline has slipped, the full payment deadline will also follow suit.".

The ONLY reason I sent that mail was to confirm to each person individually the funds I have received, the delivery address, and to provide them with an invoice for their records. It was not a request for final payment which will only happen when the hubs are at my unit ready to ship.

I should be receiving the sample today or tomorrow. Barring mishaps, I will authorise them to ship the whole lot to me straight after that, for repacking and shipping onwards early next week.

[Jeemy]

A slight further delay as when they opened the packet of seals, they'd been sent the wrong ones. BIG thanks to John (B-C-N) for helping to answer a couple of questions on the rear bearing seals in a few minutes, to ensure we got the right ones sent - they've not produced these in a few years and wanted some confirmation before ordering in bulk, which I was ill-placed to give.

The first set of hubs, complete with bearings are on their way to me now! By the looks of things they will be here tomorrow. I have my wee boy all day on a Friday but if I am not at the unit they should get left at the main office and my wife will take him in the afternoon so I can come and sit wait.

I will get them test-fitted on the weekend hook or crook. Means a VERY long night tonight but I'm used to that.

After which I don't know if it will be a few days or another week+, before the full shipment is completed. Basically once I know the shipment is en route, I'll ask for the payment the Friday following, with cut-off date the Friday after that to give some leeway. Obviously with communication these dates can change but those of you I have not heard from yet, please be advised that I can't wait forever to know if you still want these.

But if anybody is in dire need of their hubs, please PM me or post here, and you can have this first set sent out early next week on an overnight courier, they will obviously be a little grubby from the test fit. Otherwise I will keep these as my set and ship yours still sealed.

[Jeemy]

PS if anybody can lend me a cat to take the photos with, that would save me some time in the morning.

[Jeemy]

Test hubs are here! Unidentified FedEx delay on Friday, I couldn't have done anything anyway as I wrecked my back lifting the wee one out of the pool and was laid up all weekend……

Quick pic of what I got:

I will be working through the night to try and get my new unit clear so I can bring the car down tomorrow, jack it up and do a test fit.

[Jeemy]

Hub in place on stub axle:

[Jeemy]

In place on a 4x100 Mini FRONT disc (NB this is an incorrect disc, I have MDC266 discs en route).

And in place on my wheel:

I'll put the full system together with the MDC266 brake disc & OEM calliper next.

However these are obviously the correct part and I am authorising the engineers to go ahead and insert the rest of the bearings ready to ship the full order to me.

Once I've rebuilt the system with the OEM calliper, I'll take it to bits again and will then refit with a PNM 16" brake calliper kit. I won't be able to do both 15" and 16" so somebody else will need to do an in-place test on the 15s. Finally I will try with the Hi-Spec rear kit once I've done some research on that. I have asked in the other topic on discs whether Jim (muley) is on the 15" kit, I think that he is - if so, then we have our verified solution for that already.

So good news everyone! Any questions please do ask.

[Nobby]

Nice one Jeemy,

Just itching to get my hands on these now, with some suitable discs, maybe even go the who hog a look at upgrading calipers all round

[Jeemy]

Just a quick update, I am just waiting on one person to confirm they definitely don't want bearings, then the bearings insertion can be done, which is a day's work, then they come to me for shipment onwards.

I am going to make a pictorial showing how to fit them. I have all the discs sitting on the floor now ready to do.

I just had a couple of questions if anybody can chime in:

- what grease would you use for hubs and bearings? any experiences? also how much to put on, and where, and if there is any procedure to follow to ensure it surrounds the axle, front race, etc, adequately.
- any tips for tapping the hub on and checking centrality and rotation before fitment of disc/wheel? Mine tamped on fine, but any way of ensuring a proper fitment save torquing the central nut down and hoping for the best would be nice
- there is a fitting/alignment screw which in maybe 20-30 sets of disc replacement I've done in my life, is either missing or rusted to buggery and needs drilled out. They are not strictly necessary, but I like to have these things if I can - I've never bought a pack of discs which came with this screw. It would be nice to buy a pack of these and chuck 2 in with every hubs package - they would I guess be a flat-headed, flush-fitting, torx or allen-key screw. anybody know what I would buy?

[ashm]

- what grease would you use for hubs and bearings? any experiences? also how much to put on, and where, and if there is any procedure to follow to ensure it surrounds the axle, front race, etc, adequately.
- any tips for tapping the hub on and checking centrality and rotation before fitment of disc/wheel? Mine tamped on fine, but any way of ensuring a proper fitment save torquing the central nut down and hoping for the best would be nice
- there is a fitting/alignment screw which in maybe 20-30 sets of disc replacement I've done in my life, is either missing or rusted to buggery and needs drilled out. They are not strictly necessary, but I like to have these things if I can - I've never bought a pack of discs which came with this screw. It would be nice to buy a pack of these and chuck 2 in with every hubs package - they would I guess be a flat-headed, flush-fitting, torx or allen-key screw. anybody know what I would buy?

- I used standard EP2 grease from a reputable manufacturer, being careful to keep everything very clean. As to amount, opinions seem to vary but many people pack the cavity about 50% full, having thoroughly worked it into the cages.
- I would avoid any tapping. I just gently offered the hub up to the spindle, fitted the outer race & washer, wound the nut on loosely with fingers, then slowly tightened it with fingers whilst rotating the hub. The grease holds the cages in position whilst fitting. Then I followed the manual, torqued up to the recommended setting whilst rotating, then backed off the nut and retightened with fingers, checked for play by wiggling 3-9 and 6-12, tightened a tiny bit more to fit the split pin, and refitted the dust cap.
- The disc retaining screw is usually countersunk socket head. I've had some missing and some I had to drill out, but recently I've used stainless, only tightened just enough to hold the disc true and with plenty of copaslip, and I've had no issues at all. Size may vary I suppose.

Cheers,
Adam

[Jeemy]

How does one measure the interior of a thread, out of interest? Just offer up tap screws until it works?

Actually scratch that, the engineers drilled it, I'll ask them. Still be interested to know.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

For future reference, the minor ID of the hole - the smallest measurement as measured with a caliper or similar tool is the thread diameter. Then you just need a thread gauge to figure out what the pitch is.

My guess it is M6 x 1mm

[ashm]

How does one measure the interior of a thread, out of interest? Just offer up tap screws until it works?

Actually scratch that, the engineers drilled it, I'll ask them. Still be interested to know.

I find I've been able to measure and identify most threaded items (internal and external) with a cheap vernier caliper, a cheaper thread pitch gauge and a copy of this book.
Adam

[JohnB]

There are 2 additional sets. These are available to Sandra, lansledj, or anybody else who has previously posted here and dropped out, on first refusal. LEC members on second refusal.

You have a PM.