EOI: (Mini Group Buy) SADfab MR2-S rear hubs for Miata

[Lokiel]

SADfab from MT.net are having a Group Buy on MR-2-S rear hubs for NA/NBs.

"We are now offering MR2 hubs ready to go for Miata. What is this you ask?

Its well known the miata hubs leave a few things to be desired. The rears have been known to shear off and break in extreme cases and you end up losing a wheel, damaging your mobile hair salon and ruining your track day at best, or killing someone at worst.

Credit to GeneSplicer for discovering that the toyota MR2-S hub from 2000-05 will fit with some modifications. They are 4x100 pattern, use the same stud thread pitch and length as a factory miata hub, and are substantially thicker with much more desirable machining radii and therefor should be much stronger. This may be the last time you replace the rear hubs as a preventative safety measure!

Price will be $165 shipped for a pair, ready to go including the required washers, with standard studs. We will offer ARP studs and new replacement bearings as an add on option. Price TBA"

For details see:
https://www.miataturbo.net/miata-parts-sale-trade-5/sadfab-mr2-s-rear-hubs-miata-96576/
And:
https://www.miataturbo.net/race-prep-75/mr-s-rear-hub-discussion-94420/

To save on S&H, ManiacLachy & I are interested in getting a set of these.

To keep the mini-Group Buy under the A$1,000 Duty limit and save on International S&H, if 2 other people from SE QLD are interested in "getting in on this action", please add yourself to the list below so that we can place the order ASAP.

Note: There are a few options available in the Group Buy (see first link above) and we can work out the details of what's required when the order is placed.

SE QLD Group 1:
1. Lokiel (nominated purchaser)
2. ManiacLachy
3.
4.

If there are more than 2 others from SE QLD interested, or other locations want them, please add yourself and location to a new group list. Someone from each group will then need to be responsible for placing and receiving the order (this gets around the issue of an individual being prosecuted as an importer for importing too much specific product).

[Magpie]

3. magpie

[greenMachine]

SE QLD Group 1:
1. Lokiel (nominated purchaser)
2. ManiacLachy
3.Magpie
4.

If there are more than 2 others from SE QLD interested, or other locations want them, please add yourself and location to a new group list. Someone from each group will then need to be responsible for placing and receiving the order (this gets around the issue of an individual being prosecuted as an importer for importing too much specific product).

NSW

1. Greenmachine
2.
3.
4.

[greenMachine]

I am already in for these. If the NSW GB looks like having legs, I will have to decide if I want to give up my early delivery position.

I have asked Sean if it would be cheaper for freight to ship without the studs, awaiting a response. Note, these use a Toyota stud (duh ), not MX5, whether stock or extended ARP.

[greenMachine]

Great initiative Lokiel

Note, that $165 is USD, say $220AUD plus post. Plus bearings/ARP studs if wanted.

[ManiacLachy]

I think these hubs are going to be far more popular than Sean anticipated, at least initially anyway.

Good point about the price including bearings and studs, could bump it up over AUD$250/set. In which case the buy would have to be limited to 3 sets.

I can't decide if I want ARPs or not. If I get them in the back, I'd have to get them in the front because otherwise it's a miss-match! I would get with bearings though.

[Lokiel]

Good point about "the extras" potentially driving the price for 4 sets over A$1,000.

- will PM Magpie & ManiacLachy about their preferred options and close this SE QLD Mini Group Buy at 3 orders.

[greenMachine]

Studs: for the GB, buying without studs (or at least, without studs fitted), will reduce the volume of the package required, and cost if no studs included. The hubs are sourced with stock studs, but these are removed for the machining - so when the machining is completed there is scope to stop there and box it up.

Bearings: I recall reading in the Mt.net thread that bearings are the MX5 rear hub bearings. Again, for cost/freight reasons, think about whether you want to pay to ship stock bearings across the Pacific. I know, I have specced mine with bearings, but I am not trying to keep under $1k total cost (yet ).

So, to keep as far under the $1k limit as possible, skip the studs and bearings which can be sourced here. The ARP part number is quoted in one of the two threads on Mt.net if you take that route. This might give to enough headroom for a fourth set in the GB.

I looked last night, and there were nearly 40 people on the list. Also note that pricing has been set for the first 20 (I think), but may vary after that, and anyone in this GB will be subject to this possibility.

[Lokiel]

I'm planning on the hubs to save on S&H weight since the other components can be sourced here (and I still have a full set of ARP studs I've never installed).

An extra set or two of of ARP studs wouldn't contribute significantly to the weight but if installed they would change the volume which may or may not affect S&H costs.

I consider these hubs to be one of those "Install it now and never worry about it again" items, something you REALLY like to have on a car that does track time.

[ManiacLachy]

I still have a full set of ARP studs I've never installed.

Be aware that your ARP studs may not fit. Sean isn't using the usual ARP studs, he's using ones intended for Lexus IS300.

An extra set or two of of ARP studs wouldn't contribute significantly to the weight but if installed they would change the volume which may or may not affect S&H costs.

Good thinking on not installing the studs to reduce volume, like GM said either version of studs should be able to be left uninstalled.

I think bearings will be a wash price wise, we'd probably pay more for them here which makes up for the additional cost of shipping. Plus it's one less thing to source and install locally. I'm happy to pay a little extra on my share of the shipping.

[greenMachine]

The NSW GB is not getting any interest let alone traction, and therefore I think that I will withdraw and keep my place in the existing SADFab queue. It is up to 40, and while I am sure it will keep ticking over (but at a slower rate now) I think I would rather be No15.

[Lokiel]

I've been surprised at how little interest there was in these too.

I don't need them right now but I think it's the type of product that will only ever be made in batches when there's a big enough demand for them.
Given that the current order level is now at 42 and slowing down, who knows when there'll be enough orders to warrant a subsequent batch later on?

[takai]

Given the 'engineering diagrams' it probably wouldn't be too much more to have them made locally.

[Lokiel]

Given the 'engineering diagrams' it probably wouldn't be too much more to have them made locally.

Agreed, but someone needs to be prepared to actually do it.

[takai]

It’s about US$60 for a pair of stock hubs, the McMaster Carr washers are about $2. Doubt it would be $100 of machining even as a one off ($140 at exchange rates). Would take maybe 15mins per hub.