WW Axles in stock Bugeye housing?

[tim66ah]

I have a rear axle and front hubs from a 67 midget I parted out years ago. Could I use the wire wheel axles in my 59 sprite disc wheel axle? I do know the axle housings are different widths ww axles something like 14" narrower. I'm sure the front hubs won't work with the drum brakes?

 

[Gerard]

Wire wheel axles are 1/2" shorter, so you won't get full engagement. Many people install them anyway without issue, but make sure they don't exhibit any twist of deformation at the splines, and most importantly, make sure they are installed on the same side as they were originally installed. You are correct about front hubs. Not only are disc and drum hubs very different, but even disc brake car hubs are not interchangeable.

 

[HealeyRick]

If you want to get full engagement into the diff, you can air chisel out the welch plug inside the hub and use a hydraulic press to press the axle out to the same length as the standard axle. New plugs are available from Moss (good to put in if you don't want gear oil all over your brakes)

 

[nomad]

Rick, I think I would spit the difference on the hub and diff engagement since I have had WW axles come loose in the hub. I'd be afraid of limiting the hub engagement too much.

Kurt.

 

[HealeyRick]

Rick, I think I would spit the difference on the hub and diff engagement since I have had WW axles come loose in the hub. I'd be afraid of limiting the hub engagement too much.

Kurt.

Probably not a bad idea, although I haven't had any problems with mine.

 

[markberry]

Wire wheel axles are 1/2" shorter, so you won't get full engagement. Many people install them anyway without issue, but make sure they don't exhibit any twist of deformation at the splines, and most importantly, make sure they are installed on the same side as they were originally installed. You are correct about front hubs. Not only are disc and drum hubs very different, but even disc brake car hubs are not interchangeable.

Hi Gerard,
I pulled my axles out during the restoration of the car and didn't pay any attention to which side they came out of. I guess I have a 50/50 chance they went back in the side they came out of. why so important?
Mark

 

[Gerard]

Hi Gerard,
I pulled my axles out during the restoration of the car and didn't pay any attention to which side they came out of. I guess I have a 50/50 chance they went back in the side they came out of. why so important?
Mark

Short answer: Metal fatigue. If the axles were twisted their entire life in one direction (probably a long time), then torqued the opposite direction, you have an increased likelihood of snapping off the end. Some times, it's possible to observe very slight distortion in the splines that will indicate which direction they have been driven.

 

[markberry]

Short answer: Metal fatigue. If the axles were twisted their entire life in one direction (probably a long time), then torqued the opposite direction, you have an increased likelihood of snapping off the end. Some times, it's possible to observe very slight distortion in the splines that will indicate which direction they have been driven.

Thanks. My axles are original wire wheel axles installed in (I think) the original Bugeye housing, so I have no idea how long or which direction they were run in the midget they were most likely sourced from.