Miata spindle weights

[jhartley]

I was wondering how much the miata spindle weighs or if you know somewhere where accurate weights are posted. I am mainly interested in total weight (spindle, bearings, and hub) but any details would be appreciated.

[Midlana1]

9.5 lbs, not counting calipers or brake disc. Figure 55-70 lbs total with wheel and tire. What are you up to...

[freakynami]

This might be useful to someone? Would take some tweaking of course...

http://www.dpcars.net/dp2/recent.htm - 7lbs

[Midlana1]

Yes I saw that, definitely not low-cost though. Dennis and I are at opposite ends of the car-building pool.

[jhartley]

ive just been looking at making spindles and i was wondering what a comperable weight would be.

im thinking about trying to use the wide 5 wheels/hubs that some of the late models uses. the wheels run 8.10lbs for a 16x6 to 15.60lbs for a 16x18!!!! wheel. (16x11 is 10.80 lbs) the hubs (which are the hub, "wheel spokes" and brake rotor hat -- has the 8 on 7" brake rotor bolt pattern on the hub) weigh 6.71lbs and are not too expensive at around $100 each. http://www.stockcarproducts.com/rear12d.htm

the wheels can be purchased for around $150 each.

for the spindles, winters and a few other manufactures make aluminum bolt on spindles to go in the end of a quick change live axle housing, which you could use on a homemade upright.

I am thinking about using one of the front wheel drive v8 setups out there in a midlana style chassis---- i relize the weight penalty, but I find myself rediculasly attracted to the v8 sound, (ive owned (in order) a 94 corvette, 96 miata, 03 s2000, 03 bmw 325, 07 bmw 335 and just recently a $150 running 91 camaro) and even though the miata was much more fun to drive than basicly all of them when i got back in a v8 (the cheep camaro - which is probly only slightly faster than the miata in a straight line) i realized how much i missed the sound.

[Jagmandave]

Not to change the subject, but I watched Bullit the other night again, is there anything badder sounding than that Mustang, especially at low revs and load? Sex on wheels....

That said, and completely agreeing with you on the sound aspect, there's a lot of satisfaction it taking my 1.6L MINI Cooper JCW and blowing the doors off those badass sounding Mustangs and Camaros....and when it comes to braking and cornering? Fugedaboutit!

So, while I completely appreciate where you're coming from, I'm finding how much I enjoy light weight coupled with strong, usable power and a really good chassis! All traits of the Midlana as originally imagined by Kurt....

[Midlana1]

On the list of cool car engine sounds, nothing beat the V12 in a Jaguar IMSA car - just incredible.

Right behind that is a V8 with 180 deg headers, making it sound a lot like a Ferrari.

However, what surprised me was how incredible the VW VR6 sounded with an aftermarket exhaust on it. Plus, the drivetrain's really small, as V6s go, and they make great power and torque. The only downside seems to be reliablity, though I don't know if it's engine issues or some surrounding system that typically has problems.

[Jagmandave]

The first time I heard an IMSA V-12 Jaguar run in anger was at Riverside Raceway and I finally understood what they meant when they described it as the sound of tearing sheet metal! Spot on! Sends chills to my spine just remembering......

Don't think I've heard a VR6 run with a good exhaust sytem, but in theory that engine makes a lot of sense, a 6 cylinder engine in the space of a big four.

[jmcglynn]

A fabricated or machined upright and aftermarket brake setup looks like it has the potential to drop several pounds of unsprung weight at each corner. I was just looking at the dpcars uprights, and yes they don't meet anyone's definition of "locost", but I'm intrigued. I'm wondering about building something along those lines myself.

9.5 lbs, not counting calipers or brake disc. Figure 55-70 lbs total with wheel and tire. What are you up to...

[jerelw]

Check out locostusa, Motive's open source midi. He made his own uprights and they're quite elegant. They use bolt on spindles, so that opens the door to different bolt pattern options.