Help! Axle Shaft to long for Center Cap

[AIRSICK]

I was wondering if anyone has modified their rear axle snout to help them fit wheels on the rear of thier IRS Type 1. I just bought some 17 X 7 +40 wheels (Eagle Alloys) and I think that the rear axle length will interfere with the wheel center cap. Has anyone modified the rear brake drum/stub axle shaft to shorten it so that it doesn't interfere with the center cap? If so how was it done? I don't think I will need to take much off, probably about 1/4" or so. I think I have room for an 8mm spacer which will help but I still may need to take some off.

[flat]

Yeah, I had to trim the end of the stub axle to clear the cap. I just removed the wheel and hack-sawed the stub axle so that it was flush with the end of the axle nut. Also, I machined the cap a little to allow me to clear the nut. Good luck.

[AIRSICK]

Hey Flat, Thanks, I'm glad to hear someone else had this problem! I am sure that doing what you suggest will solve the problem. I just wanted to hear if anyone else had done it. I bet it took a long time to hack thru that sucker! Anyway, thanks I appreciate the reply.

[flat]

If the above doesn't work out, then there is another (more involved) fix.

You can add a spacer over the stub axle to the inboard end of the trailing arm, thereby moving the whole stub axle inboard. Then you have to machine the shoulder on the spline ends of the drive axles down a little to effectively 'shorten' them (Allows the CV joints to move closer to one another). Relocate the clip groove in each end of the drive axle, and chop off a little of each end of the drive axles. Then chop off a little off the stub axle, but save the original cotter pin hole (or relocate). Finally, you may have to trim a little of the outboard end of the drum(or disk) snout.

This method is alot of work, but it may have to be done for certain rims.

Ofcourse, you could just make up some custom wheel caps. Good Luck.

[trevorbrady]

or you could use a cheap and widely available wheel spacer and maybe some longer bolts to move your wheel outwards, and away from the problem...

[flat]

Trevor,

....and into another problem(fender fouling).

[trevorbrady]

I don't think it would be a problem with 7x17" wheels, ET40 and stock wings (fenders) I had 7x17"s on my bug with stock wings and an offset of ET35. There was easily at least another 5mm to spare before things got tight, so I don't see why with "69projet"'s combination a spacer up to 10mm couldn't be used. It's an awful lot easier than having your rear hubs machined down, especially if you drive your bug everyday and can't afford the down-time.

You don't want to take too much off your hubs either, or the castellations on the big axle nut won't co-incide with the hole in the shaft for the split-pins...