Super Hub Bolts

Home Up

 

Visit Spidertrax
Click Here To Visit

Home
Up
Super Hub Bolts
With Bill Johnston

Super Hub Bolt Upgrade Kit

Click though for a closer look...Have you ever jumped on the gas in four wheel drive expecting the tires to grab and pull the vehicle through the rocks? But then you see bolt heads flying and someone tells you your hubs are spinning inside the wheel? Time to beef up the hub bolts!

Ok, so the hub on the right doesn't seem very stock looking. But believe me, it's got legit Suzuki roots. We just added some bling we built ourselves and combined it with some muscle from Spidertrax.

Click though for a closer look...Click though for a closer look...Now the hub on the left looks a bit more like you would expect on a Zook, and this upgrade works just as well on the stock hubs, but we had problems with our beefed up back axle that was outfitted with a Spidertrax  Full Floater Sidewinder. We kept blowing out stock hub bolts and then aftermarket replacements.
Click though for a closer look...Click though for a closer look...Although this looks similar to a front setup, we set the rear up with front disc brake calipers. That is why we know it will work up front just as well. We will probably do the front next to keep everything consistent. The first thing to do was to remove the brake calipers.
Click though for a closer look...Click though for a closer look...After removing the brake rotor, we removed the aftermarket bolts and saw just how trashed they were. And these bolts were the ones that survived! The bolts have a limited surface in which to 'grab' onto the threads in the housing. There just isn't enough 'grab' to keep the bolts from vibrating loose, even with loc-tite.
Click though for a closer look...Click though for a closer look...These two pictures are where the front and rear look a bit different. Because of the strength of the full floater, we used the drive flange from the front of a four door sidekick that didn't come with locking hubs. This took away the possibility of blowing a rear hub under power. Then we pulled the axle shafts to get them out of the way.

Click though for a closer look...Click though for a closer look...Click though for a closer look...Click though for a closer look...
Click though for a closer look...Click though for a closer look...We needed to remove the wheel hub so that we could work on it easier. Work on it? Yup. If we are going to use larger hub bolts, we definitely need to increase the size of the bolt holes. If the bearings looked worn, this would be the time to take care of it.
Click though for a closer look...Click though for a closer look...We then took the drive flanges and the wheel hubs over to the drill press to make sure the changes were done with the least amount of problems. This is not a job for hand tools. While the drive flange isn't really critical, you still want the bolt to fit perfectly so that there is no 'wobble room'. We used the 3/8" drill bit and cutting oil that Spidertrax included in the kit.

Click onto the next page...

06/01/05 09:30

Looking for more exposure at your web site? We are  looking for contributing authors. Any article you provide will  be linked back to your site from the iZook web site with a full size banner at the top of your article.  This site  can only stay cutting edge with your input. E - mail me for details.  You can link to iZook with a new link button. Make sure to let us know if you use this button so a return link can be posted on the iZook links page.

Select this link for the Table Of Contents

Email Editor in Chief  Email Me!

iZook.com is Trademarked 1998-2007, iZook. All rights reserved.  This site is protected under copyright laws. Please do not use the iZook.com name or reprint any articles from this site without written permission. Copyright © 1998-2007, iZook. All rights reserved. 

Disclaimer: The fabrication, modifications and designs you see on this web site are completed by our readers and submitted to us for publishing.  If you duplicate these modifications you do so at your own risk. We do not endorse or make any claims to their safety, performance, On-road or off-road worthiness except as noted in our "Product Reviews". These reviews are on items purchased from or provided by reputable aftermarket suppliers.   Please see our legal information page for details. Suzuki, Samurai, Sidekick, Vitara, Grand Vitara, X-90, and the Suzuki "S" Logo are all registered trademarks of American Suzuki Motor Corporation. Geo, Chevy, and Tracker are all registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. iZook is in no way endorsed by or affiliated with American Suzuki Motor Corporation.