bedford stubaxles

[Marishka]

over the years i have heard a few times that people that race holden HQ,s were after bedford cf front stub axles because they were stronger than the standard holden HQ  ones.
would this maybe mean that holden HQ ones could be fitted to a bedford van?

but bein as a bedford isnt a race car maybe if the holden stub axle fits maybe it might be an easier way 2 fit disks 2 a bedford.
ive also wondered weather it might lower a bedford van?
 im not sure as ive never checked 1 out against another.

anyone else ever heard of this?

[MaTTe]

thats an interesting point marty.
I've never heard of anyone wanting to fit bedford stubs in a HQ racer, and the holden stubs are more than strong enough for an hq, plus they are quite different..
But just to validate your point, i have holden stubs on my bedford... from what i understand of the conversion there is more to it than just unbolting one and bolting up the other.. it changes the camber/caster quite dramatically from what i remember..

[Marishka]

cool MaTTe, so its posible then,
so if it changes the camber could it be a good thing when lowering the beddy or would it maybe work against lowering in the other extreem?

i was just wondering as ive had a few HQ  race car owners asking for the bedford stubaxles.

thus has been in the back of my mind 2 ask the question for about 10 years.

cheers.
 

[MaTTe]

there was a thread on here somewhere that talked briefly about the hq stub conversion, it was a tread about something like brakes i think.. but the comments made it sound like it was too hard to bother - from memory.. but it has worked out fine on my van, and then it's a bolt on caliper and disc, however now that i have an easy to use setup, i want a twin piston kit..

If it does throw out the camber/caster it is very easy to rectify, even for the home mechanic with a bit of thought and a few gauges. we made up a camber and caster gauge from a few bits an pieces that we found in my grandads shed, the key was an old repco caster gauge that we modified to make it work easy, and now we don't trust tyre jockeys to adjust our wheel alignment, as they quite often got it wrong and buggered up the race car before the race meeting rather than improving it..
But camber can basically be done with a spirit level, some minor modification is needed but its fairly easy.

I'd take photos of my disc but its nothing much to see, there are actually a couple of pics of the disc in my gallery, but it just looks like a standard setup, just the stub connected to the 2 balljoints..

[ben]

how have you changed te camber matte? spacers under the lower wishbone where it bolts to front crossmember?

cheers
ben

[Marishka]

i couldnt see washers being fitted would change anything other than lenghten the distance from the mounting point of the bottom wishbone assembly.
 i would think the actual mounting holes would need 2 be moved outward or inward from their original point 2 achieve the camber adjustment.

[Merlin]

I helped mark O fit HQ-WB drop stubs to his van and the lower ball joint is different and the mount in the lower control arm had to be removed and a new one (supplied in kit) relocated inboard and welded in to fit it took a lot of measuring and remeasuring to get all the relevent angles right through the full range of travel .but we lost the akerman point because of the new position of the third arm ( causes the front tyres to "dance" on full lock just like the HQ!!!  ).Just a point of interest I still have my fully adjustable jag/bedford f/end under my bench if anyone's interested        Cheers Neil   

[MaTTe]

Ben, the setup was as it is when i first got the van, so im not sure what was involved in the conversion.
My van is running a pretty neutral camber judging by eye, not sure what the caster is like, but when i have some spare time i'll test it all.

I'll also have a look at the way it is all mounted compared to the HQ, i know exactly how to adjust the HQ to get the settings required, im not sure about the bedford tho as i've never looked for it..

Neil, i'd be keen to see some photos to get an idea of the differences. It sounds like i should be coming round to your place and clearing up some under bench space for you.. between the front end and all the other parts you have storted down there you could end up with masses of space to store new parts.. hahah

[vintageholden]

i,m interested in the swap if possible
as crs arnt making drop axles for bedfords anymore....but are making hq....
i want to lower mine.....