Front AWD hubs?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
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Front AWD hubs?
I'm planning to use a C4 chassis under a custom hotrod that will be powered by electric motors. I really need it to have awd because you want the braking on the front wheels to do regen back to the battery when you brake for the corners, and then power the rear wheels to accelerate out of them.
What front hubs can be installed relatively easily to give a half shaft in the front wheels?
It looked like it might be possible to put in the rear hubs in the front if I do some drilling and grinding for the 3 stud rears.
But maybe a hub from another car might fit easier?
My search showed some awd corvettes, but they are like full suspension swaps. I won't have a v8 in the way to fit my front electric motor and half shafts.
What front hubs can be installed relatively easily to give a half shaft in the front wheels?
It looked like it might be possible to put in the rear hubs in the front if I do some drilling and grinding for the 3 stud rears.
But maybe a hub from another car might fit easier?
My search showed some awd corvettes, but they are like full suspension swaps. I won't have a v8 in the way to fit my front electric motor and half shafts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,479
Likes: 565
From: Clearwater Florida
Personally , I would head out to a large Pick n Pull with a tape measure and camera ... Look for hubs that would fit the C4 spindles and also look for complete AWD spindles that would fit the C4 A-arms . Ball joint tapers can be reamed .
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
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From: New Port Richey FL
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
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Back in the day when I worked at a parts store, I would spend time looking through our paper catalogs that gave all dimensions to figure out how to do this kind of thing.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 78
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From: Massachusetts
@nimblemotors Tell me more about these paper catalogs with all dimensions. How can I get my hands on one of those?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,892
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From: New Port Richey FL
Ok if you work out a bolt up hub bearing that's fine but I believe the spindle/knuckle for a C4 is a Blind hole (not open to the back) so a gaping hole would need to be cut now would that weaken the knuckle
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,892
Likes: 592
From: New Port Richey FL
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,564
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the 91-96 knuckle is an open pass through. The earlier ones were a pocket for the ABS reluctor.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,564
Likes: 1,676
There are adapters to put C5 C-tracker hubs on the front of C4’s. These are splined. Not sure there is enough room for an axle.
Van Steel was supposed to be making a custom front knuckle that allows the X-tracker Hib to bolt directly up without an adapter. That might give you room.
Van Steel was supposed to be making a custom front knuckle that allows the X-tracker Hib to bolt directly up without an adapter. That might give you room.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 365
Likes: 93
From: Chesterfield VA
You would have an easier job of this with using the C5 Corvette chassis. Not sure if you thought about the front axle yet, but the TBSS had front diff that bolted to the oil pan. Any of the V8 trailblazer's were like this.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
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So I have switched to using C5/6/7 suspension components. In fact, the Nissan Leaf I was going to use for another EV project is now going to be used for this 56 Nomad project, it will be the fwd electric motor, I was going to use a smaller front motor, but now it will be a 200hp leaf motor. I may even keep the entire leaf front suspension, not sure yet. But the rear is C5. Was planning two motors, one for each wheel to get torque vectoring, but now I will use the C5 diff and what is unique about it, is the input shaft can be accessible both the front and back, so thinking two motors feeding the C5 diff. Hope it can handle all the gobs of torque from two 200hp motors.
If not, I guess I will go back to one each wheel and get two C5 diffs?
If not, I guess I will go back to one each wheel and get two C5 diffs?