Thread: Electrathon - A Different Kind of "Hotrod"

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The wheels I am using on the front of this car had to be specially assembled for me. 20 inch wheels with hubs that accept disc brake rotors are almost non-existent. At the local bicycle store, the proprietor and I selected a mountain bike hub that has sealed bearings and disc rotor mounting holes. Then I picked out a double wall alloy rim and the bike shop guy called his supplier and ordered them for me. $85 per wheel () and two days later I got these. The hole through the center of these is about a half millimeter larger than 3/4". The disc and brake caliper are not included in the $85; they are sold separately.

At the local ACE hardware store I found some bronze oilite bushings that are 3/4" O.D. and 1/2" I.D. The perfect solution for putting 3/4" hole bearings on 1/2" diameter axles. I failed to take a pic of them separately, but the bronze shoulder is visible here behind the nut.

This quick trial fit revealed that the 1/2" x5" bolts I had for the spindles would not be long enough. Fortunately, I had not welded them to the knuckles yet. I exchanged the 5" bolts for 5 1/2" and solved the problem.

To weld the bolts into the knuckles and assure that they are straight, I used a short piece of conduit as a sleeve and tightened the spindle nut firmly against it. Then I welded the head of the bolt to the back side of the knuckle. The sleeve not only assured that the bolt was installled straight, but also protected the bolt & threads from the welding spatter.