
Performance solutions for your Caterham
Around 3 years ago, I set about the task of designing a disc brake and Ford hub conversion the for Ital rear axle for Live Axle Caterhams.
The Live Axle has several weaknesses - the driveshafts have a tendency to snap, and have poor lateral location - its not unknown for wheels and driveshafts to make a break for freedom! Then there are the rear brakes - fine for a Morris Marina, but not really ideal if you have a decent amount of horsepower and like to drive on track.
My solution uses Ford rear hubs on splined high tensile steel driveshafts with wider much stronger sealed double row bearings and new anodised 6082 CNC machined end caps and bearing housings I designed in CAD. The hub, bearing and halfshaft are clamped together using the familiar 41mm hub nut, to eliminate the lateral movement which is a major design problem in the original design under high cornering forces.
Having been fitted to my Caterham and well proven in a mixture of road/track work I have been very pleased with the results.
I've had a few enquiries as to if I would ever make them commercially available , and so depending on interest levels I am looking to manufacture a batch of 5 axle sets.
The beauty of this conversion is that it allows the use of Ford PCD Wheels - I ran 8" rear Compomotive CXRs on my car such wheels (in any width) no longer being available from Compomotive.
I sell new front hubs with the Ford PCD which can be included as part of the kit.
This axle assembly now, assuming you have a little mechanical sympathy, and aren't running 10" wide drag slicks, should be good for applications up to 250hp if using a Quaife ATB differential.
The kit for all the rear axle parts for the conversion will come in at £1600 to £2000 depending on uptake. Additional parts you will require are a solution for your handbrake - you will need to fabricate a couple of brackets and obtain a standard Sierra handbrake cable. You will of course need new wheels - if you want CXRs I can supply these at a very competitive rate.
If you are interested in such a conversion, please send me an email at jackwebbmotorsport@gmail.com
I've been around Caterhams as long as I can remember. With my father we've been on a journey to build cars that exceed the specification of any factory produced Caterham. This interest has become my career and having completed my time at Oxford Brookes University having achieved two degrees: Motorsport Engineering (1:1 GPA 4.0), Motorsport Technology (1:1 GPA 4.0 Hons). I am now sharing my time between running JWM and working as a professional race engineer in high level motorsport. My talents were also recognised by the University where I led their Formula Student team in the area of Vehicle Dynamics.
Got suspension questions? Advice is free!
My area of specialisation is suspension analysis, research and design, where I have worked with one of the most successful Caterham race teams, DPR Motorsport, as well as designing and refining my own products. I've recently built my own Caterham Sigma car which is equipped with full data logging in order to model the best settings for your car and be able to blueprint suspension settings on race cars. I am opening a workshop near Cadwell Park and Blyton Park in the autumn where I will offer these setups and services in a fully equipped workshop.
For products in my shop, I endeavour to keep all items in stock and offer next day delivery on my items in partnership with DPD.
As JWM is a small company, and at this time we do not charge VAT.
Please note if you are outside the UK and EU you can still buy some products from me, but the diversity in size and weight of some parts means I ask that you email me so I can calculate the best insured shipping rates.