Unimog Hubs - Bolt Patterns & Adapters

[Rabid Rhino]

I also posted this question on the "Got Axels" thread but thought I'd start a new......

I'm in the UK building a buggy which up until recently was based on Toyota running gear.

I've got the chance to buy a pair of brand new 900 axels. ( 404 axels are hard to find and cost more to recon. )

There's 2 front & 2 rear for sale all wrapped in the factory grease paper.

I'd like to go rear wheel steer. 900 axels come in 5 parts - Diff, axels & hubs.
Could I buy 2 front axels & bolt in a rear diff ?
Would the wheels all spin in the same direction ?

Next Question

Please hear me out.....

I've already bought my wheels & tyres. 39.5/18.5/15 boggers on 12x15 MT beadlocks from National Tire & Wheel. To get the set of 5 over here cost me £3,600 that's over $5,000 !!!! I can't afford to sell them cos I'll lose too much despite them being only a few months old & totally unused so I've really got to keep them.....

Is there any way you guys can see for machining up an adapter from the unimog to the Toyota bolt pattern ?

On top of that seeing as they're only 15" rims it looks a bit tight in there for a disc let alone a calliper. Will anything fit & if so what ?

I'm really new to these unimog axels and any fabricators reading this who may be able to help please contact me..... jnunespe@gcr.com

Thanks

Joe

[singham]

Not even close.......the 404 axles are the cheapest of the Unimog axles due to the good supplies of surplus parts and complete units. Some examples: New Caliper for a U900 axle can run close to $2800. 1 axle shaft itself $1000+. There is no question that the u900 axles are heavier and stronger, but cheaper they are not.

Cheers,

Scott

[Rabid Rhino]

Scott,

So you recon that I'm doing OK to be getting each complete brand new 900 axel ( with locker ) for £1,000 equivalent to $1,500 delivered to my door ?

Over here in the UK there's very little old mog stuff it's all 900 & 1000

Servicing items etc. for the older stuff - it just doesn't exist.

FYI - the mog guy I go to - never met him before - just gave me a 900 hub - it works fine - he just gave it to me to play with / see if it fits. He's not to worried if it take it back or not !!!! ( I wonder if I were to wear a disguise & go back 10 times I have a pair of complete axels for free )

For once it looks like we Brits get a better deal on some things after all !!!!

Joe

[Rabid Rhino]

Scott

How much heavier & stronger ?

Cheers

Joe

[ryeguy]

The U-900 axles are about 200lbs heavier, each (give/take a groin), than the 404 axles. The 404 axles, IMHO, are about equal in strength to Rockwells. The 406 (U-900) stuff blows everything that I've seen that is applicable for what we do out of the water for strength.

Forget about fitting 15" rims over your U-900 brakes. It ain't gonna happen, if it's the series brakes that I'm thinking of. They came with 20 inch rims and there isn't much room inside. Your alternative is to run 0" (or next to 0") backspacing. Your swept radius during turning would be pretty serious, but it could be done.

Making an adaptor from the Mog to a Toyota (6 bolt) pattern is easy.

--Rob

[Rabid Rhino]

Rob

So if I ran the adapter wouldn't that push the wheel out about 2-3 inches.

I might have room for discs if they were on the hubside of the adapter ?

I was thinking about contacting a brake company & getting some "flat" discs made up.

It's gotta be cheaper than the £1,000 / $1,500 I'm gonna lose on selling my new & unused wheels & tyres. It hurts so much just thinking about throwing away that kind of money.

Joe

[ryeguy]

Joe,

Adaptors to the Toyota (6 on 5.5, same as GM half-ton) are straightforward. You just need the correct studs. You could make the adaptors as thin (within reason) or thick as you need. As for your brake ideas, you'll have to be more clear.

--Rob

Originally posted by Rabid Rhino
Rob

So if I ran the adapter wouldn't that push the wheel out about 2-3 inches.

I might have room for discs if they were on the hubside of the adapter ?

I was thinking about contacting a brake company & getting some "flat" discs made up.

It's gotta be cheaper than the £1,000 / $1,500 I'm gonna lose on selling my new & unused wheels & tyres. It hurts so much just thinking about throwing away that kind of money.

Joe

[Wolfgang]

@rabid rhino
If you like to use 15" (10"wide) wheels, you have to use a 1,5 - 2" Spacer(adapter) to fit the wheel on the stock brake drum.
I did it that way on my CJ with 406 axles.
I do not see a way to make disc brakes for these axles.



www.tibus-offroad.com

[Rabid Rhino]

Wolfgang & Rob

Thanks guys for taking the time to answer.

Here's my ideas.

The 900 hub casings have some brackets ( 2 big holes ) on them that look like they're just screaming out to have some sort of calliper mounts bolted onto them. What do you think ?

As for the disc it would be a "flat" disc that would be sandwiched between the hub and the adapter. When I say "flat" I mean just that - unlike the usual disc that has a steped out centre setion that mounts to the hub - I'd do away with that "step". Have I made myself clear ? I know what I'm talking about it's just trying to write it.

I just need to see if there would be enough disc to get a calliper onto without it touching the hub or more importantly the wheel.

As for adapter thickness - yeah I see what you mean. I was just going thick for plenty of thread.

I'd appreciate your comments

Thanks again

Joe

[Wolfgang]

rabid rhino
it´s not the problem to install a disc, it´s the problem to put the caliper on. As far as i can remember is there not enough room for the caliper.

Wolfgang


www.killeraxles.com