Front Spindle upgrade for GTD

Can anyone tell me what spindle was used for the Ray Christopher front spindle upgrade package from several years back. We have a set on the car that have experienced some cracking in the welds and want to modify and repair the existing parts. The bearings are fine and we intend to stay with these bearings but modify the mounting. Hence we are looking for a set of only the spindles that Ray used. Any help will be appreciated!!
 

Malcolm

Supporter
Are your spindle one peice or bolt adaptors? Also knock on or bolt on wheels?

I have a brand new unused (but sat on the shelf for some years) set of Ray Christopher uprights with one peice spindles mounted for knock on wheels that I would be happy to sell on. Never been fitted to any car. They have the extra reinforcement in the corners to prevent flex and cracking which I have seen on some early sets.

I also have a set of cast spinners from John Wisher that could go with them if of interest, again not used only trial fitted.

Bit busy today but could take some pictures if you wanted. Am coming to the States at the end of October so could bring with me to reduce carriage if of interest.
 
Unfortunately these are bolt on wheels - not knock on. I am sure these are the early type and have the cracking at the corners, as you describe. Do you know if Ray used an of the shelf spindle, adopted to his mountings or did he make his own?
 
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That looks familiar Bud - we had a similar failure of an early pre-production set. Do they have a central cartridge welded to the plate you show? and welded at top and bottom on one side and the sides on the other? (hope that makes sense)

I'll check with Roy Smart as he produces replacements too and will know the answer to your question but it won't be till Monday as I'm off to Goodwood again tomorrow...

rgds
Paul

ps - if you want to call Roy - let me know and I'll PM you his number..
 
We also experianced this problem, but reengineered the bearing carrier by making it in one machined piece rather than a tube welded to a plate, where the failure occurs. Frank
 
As far as I'm aware, ALL failures of assembly were on early versions where the bearing carrier was only partially welded (i.e. in small areas) to the plate. With subsequent full 360 degree welds, there have been no failures.

First sign of it is generally a 'long brake pedal' as the pads get pushed back into the calipers by the disc on turns.

Worth a check for anyone who may have an early version.
 
The failures are not caused by the welding ( or lack off ) but by other factors. This is a potentially serious safety issue, and must be considered very carefully.
 

Malcolm

Supporter
Hi Bud

From those two pictures it looks like you had a very early set of modular uprights. I had a set too (they were prototyped by Ray on my car) and one is also broken. That leaves me with an unbroken one you can have just for the postage cost! You can then weld them up to your hearts delight or not as you see fit. The other set I have of unused ones are not the modular type which would take your spindles as the bits inside the cartridge are the same. However I am reluctant to split the uprights from the spindles so doubt that will be cost effective for you.
 
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