Makeing Frame Savers
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 223
Likes: 3
From: Florence KY
Makeing Frame Savers
Has anyone made there on frame savers. To me it just looks like a roller skate wheel with a bolt going threw it, I was thinking of makeing my own and wanted to see if any one has done this before
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 940
Likes: 1
From: Woodstock Ontario
You mean jacking pucks? Lots of us have made our own. I got four hockey pucks for $3, drilled them and bolted in eyebolts. If you do a search here for "jacking pucks" I'll bet you will find lots of info.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 36,838
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From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
Casters should be capable of a sustained static load of 800 lbs minimum.
We prefer 1200 Lbs and an operating capasity of 800 lbs.
At anything less, you WILL have wheel failure sooner or later.
Peace
Chip
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Home built frame savers
I just completed a set of rollers for those front protective frames. 11/2" brass bar stock was cut 1/4" thick and center drilled 3/8", producing four brass wheels 1 1/2" in diameter with a 3/8 hole in the center. One wheel was mounted on each side of the frame. I turned up four shoulder bushings (3/8" OD) out of stainless steel and center drilled them 1/4". Two quarter inch holes were drilled side to side in the two front frames. A hardened quarter inch bolt with washer goes through the shoulder bushing and wheel on one side of the frame, through the frame, and through the second wheel and bushing on the other side. I used a nut and key to secure this axle and used water proof grease to lubricate the whole thing. Both sides have been involuntarily "road tested" a couple of times and the wheels have come through in fine shape. I used brass and stainless because it will never rust and I had it on hand. This could be made out of steel. I toyed with buying shielded ball bearings and bolting them on but finding rust proof ball bearings seemed like a long search. The whole job took a morning and you need a lathe to do it but it has proved stong enough to take the load required.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I'd tend to agree that if you fit a cheap imitation there's potential to cause damage that you're trying to avoid. This may be one of those where its better to spend the extra few $$ and get something made for the job. JMHO.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,300
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From: Cambridge Ontario
St. Jude Donor '07
There is another option NO WHEELS.
Make that sick grinding noise a thing of the past!
This new innovative approach to protecting the radiator supports will make that sick grinding noise a thing of the past.
No holes to drill / nothing to weld
Made from hardened urethane
Wear resistant / impact absorbing
(Sold in Pairs) Selling Price = $82.00USD shipped anywhere in North America. Remember, all our prices include shipping costs. There are no hidden or extra fees. What you see advertised is what you pay!
Please visit www.engineeredcorvetteproducts.ca
Make that sick grinding noise a thing of the past!
This new innovative approach to protecting the radiator supports will make that sick grinding noise a thing of the past.
No holes to drill / nothing to weld
Made from hardened urethane
Wear resistant / impact absorbing
(Sold in Pairs) Selling Price = $82.00USD shipped anywhere in North America. Remember, all our prices include shipping costs. There are no hidden or extra fees. What you see advertised is what you pay!
Please visit www.engineeredcorvetteproducts.ca
Last edited by E.C.P; Sep 23, 2007 at 06:53 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 223
Likes: 3
From: Florence KY
Iam going to try it The worst thing that could happen is they bend or do not work and I have to buy a set. I'am Going to put a wheel on both sides of rad supports. If it does work I'll post pics
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
...read all of the posts and there's less confusion...
I'm no engineer, but I know my frame saver rubber wheels take quite a beating. The flexing rubber is forgiving though. I know some of them are expensive for what they are and I also considered making my own. I couldn't find ball bearing loaded casters that looked as beefy from any "normal" sources. I also don't weld, so making the brackets alone would've required outside work.
Skate board wheels may look similar, but does anyone really believe that they carry the same load capacity?
I applaud anyone with the abilities to make their own, but why re-invent the wheel (pun intended)?
I'd think making them from brass would (1) stand out more than the black rubber wheels (2) be much less forgiving/rigid and impact against them would be more harsh and noisey (3) the brass wheels will eventually look pretty dinged up. Of coarse the cost was FREE!
Maybe images of them after several thousand miles of use/impacts would change my mind...
I'm no engineer, but I know my frame saver rubber wheels take quite a beating. The flexing rubber is forgiving though. I know some of them are expensive for what they are and I also considered making my own. I couldn't find ball bearing loaded casters that looked as beefy from any "normal" sources. I also don't weld, so making the brackets alone would've required outside work.
Skate board wheels may look similar, but does anyone really believe that they carry the same load capacity?
I applaud anyone with the abilities to make their own, but why re-invent the wheel (pun intended)?
I'd think making them from brass would (1) stand out more than the black rubber wheels (2) be much less forgiving/rigid and impact against them would be more harsh and noisey (3) the brass wheels will eventually look pretty dinged up. Of coarse the cost was FREE!
Maybe images of them after several thousand miles of use/impacts would change my mind...
Last edited by hotwheels57; Sep 23, 2007 at 05:17 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,513
Likes: 4
From: Official Dirty Dozen Member
. I also don't weld, so making the brackets alone would've required outside work.
Skate board wheels may look similar, but does anyone really believe that they carry the same load capacity?
I applaud anyone with the abilities to make their own, but why re-invent the wheel (pun intended)?
I'd think making them from brass would (1) stand out more than the black rubber wheels (2) be much less forgiving/rigid and impact against them would be more harsh and noisey (3) the brass wheels will eventually look pretty dinged up. Of coarse the cost was FREE!
Maybe images of them after several thousand miles of use/impacts would change my mind...
Skate board wheels may look similar, but does anyone really believe that they carry the same load capacity?
I applaud anyone with the abilities to make their own, but why re-invent the wheel (pun intended)?
I'd think making them from brass would (1) stand out more than the black rubber wheels (2) be much less forgiving/rigid and impact against them would be more harsh and noisey (3) the brass wheels will eventually look pretty dinged up. Of coarse the cost was FREE!
Maybe images of them after several thousand miles of use/impacts would change my mind...
All you need is a drill to make the hole for the bolt.
I used skateboard wheels and they work perfectly.
3 years and counting.