Here's my recommendation(s):
If you normally run the Southwick hub but carry stock hubs as spares, buy
the Southwick version of the kit. If something happens that you need to go
to the stock hub, just don't run the spacers until you correct the problem
and go back to the Southwick hub.
Alternately, you can buy the spacer kit that works with the stock hub (in
addition to the Southwick version you've bought) and carry it with the
spare stock hub. It is a good idea to carry a spare set of the Southwick
sized wheel bearings so you don't have to resort to a stock hub, though.
Whether you choose to run the spacers or not, you'll get the advantages of
the stiffer, stronger, better front spindle. The spacer should give
additional resistance to deflection, but is certainly
optional. Incidentally, front wheel bearing spacers are in common use in
stock car racing.
I do NOT recommend using stock bearings in the Southwick hub even if
they'll fit, but I'm 95% sure that they won't. I don't have handy access
to the innards of one of the Southwick hubs without taking a corner of my
car back apart, but one of the major improvements made going with the
Southwick hub was the bearing replacement. The bearings that go with the
Southwick hub are MUCH better quality and higher strength than
stock. We've killed a few sets of stock bearings before going to the new
hub design - they don't hold up well in racing conditions.
- Tony Drews
At 07:55 AM 2/22/2004, MARK J WEATHERS wrote:
>Amici, here is the explanation of the difference in spacers with the stock
>hub and the Southwick:
>
>Apparently when Uncle Jack and Southwick designed the new hubs, a slightly
>different bearing set was used. The inboard bearing is much wider than
>stock, so the spacer needs to be shorter. There is also a slight difference
>in the Inside diameter of the cage, so the spacer has to be slightly smaller
>in OD than stock.
>
>The good news is that the axle is the same for either application, in fact
>it carries the large center diameter farther out along the shaft so that the
>Southwick bearing is more fully supported than with the stock shaft where
>the bearing actually hangs out over the taper. The bad news is that the
>shims need to be slightly smaller so that they fit inside the bearing cage
>for the Southwick. The stock hub types can buy additional or replacement
>shims from McMaster Carr, but the SW types will either have to buy them from
>me or modify the McMaster shims themselves. Replacement shims for SW are
>$500 each and must be replaced after every race (ha ha just kidding). I
>bought some additional shims and are shrinking them in case anyone needs
>them. It may be possible to fit stock bearings to the SW hub but Uncle Jack
>or Tony would have to weigh in on that.
>
>Bottom line: Axles work in either application and can be used without
>spacers as well. There may be some stiffness gain just with the axle
>upgrade. Spacers and shims are specific to hub type, but are low cost
>compared to the axle ($45 per car set).
>
>Axles can be purchased seperately, should cost in the neighborhood of $240,
>although I need to look at actual costs from the first run and see before I
>commit. All axles from the first run are spoken for but the next run should
>be much quicker, before the snow melts anyway. I will not sell spacers and
>shims without the axles unless you have already purchased axles
>d -strongly advise- against using spacers with stock axles because of
>the tensile load placed on the axle.
>
>Mark
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