Elan S4-Continuing to Unravel the Mystery - Front Hubs
Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:22 pm
I'm in Month Three of Elan ownership and continuing to unravel the mystery that is my Elan. Some good (discovered a professionally-done tall block/big valve/Sprint cam conversion); some not good (discovered clutch master cylinder, head gasket, silencer all needed replacement). On balance, I'm loving this car and the Elan experience as a whole.
So this past weekend I replaced my stock steel wheels and 175/70x13 Sumitomos with Panasports/Vredestein 155HRx13 Sprints*, only to learn my front hub nuts spin on opposite of the correct direction. Upon further investigation, I found my hubs had the following parts numbers:
Hub on right side of car:
Hub on left side of car:
Well I didn't have to be a rocket scientist to conclude the hub with the part's number ending "RH" should have been on the right side of the car and vice versa.
I called the HBSCPO**, who, as in response to all previous questions, reported "they must have been that way when I purchased the car in 1989" because during his 25 years of ownership he performed no work on the hubs. He also stated the hub nuts never loosened on him.
So my questions are as follows:
1. How complicated will it be to switch front hubs so they are on the correct side?
2. Will I need to switch the brake rotors as well, or can I leave them in place?
3. Are there any "while I'm at it" tasks I should consider while I'm at it (wheel bearings, axles, etc.)?
4. Is it dangerous driving around on the current configuration while I'm finding time to make the switch?
Many thanks for your help!
John
*Comparison report between the Sumitomos and Vredestein to follow shortly.
**Honest But Somewhat Clueless Previous Owner."
So this past weekend I replaced my stock steel wheels and 175/70x13 Sumitomos with Panasports/Vredestein 155HRx13 Sprints*, only to learn my front hub nuts spin on opposite of the correct direction. Upon further investigation, I found my hubs had the following parts numbers:
Hub on right side of car:
Hub on left side of car:
Well I didn't have to be a rocket scientist to conclude the hub with the part's number ending "RH" should have been on the right side of the car and vice versa.
I called the HBSCPO**, who, as in response to all previous questions, reported "they must have been that way when I purchased the car in 1989" because during his 25 years of ownership he performed no work on the hubs. He also stated the hub nuts never loosened on him.
So my questions are as follows:
1. How complicated will it be to switch front hubs so they are on the correct side?
2. Will I need to switch the brake rotors as well, or can I leave them in place?
3. Are there any "while I'm at it" tasks I should consider while I'm at it (wheel bearings, axles, etc.)?
4. Is it dangerous driving around on the current configuration while I'm finding time to make the switch?
Many thanks for your help!
John
*Comparison report between the Sumitomos and Vredestein to follow shortly.
**Honest But Somewhat Clueless Previous Owner."