Ok, after reading every thread I could find on quick-release steering wheels yesterday, I still have no answer to my question: are the ball-bearing type quick-release hubs acceptable for track use? HPDEs, NOT racing. I actually found a thread sort of asking that same question, but no answer was actually given, only that most of the racers use the spline/hex type hubs. If it is "acceptable" but someone has an especially good reason for still not doing it, what reason would that be?

 

The question is really why one would want to, rather than why one would not. If there is a really good reason - like the fact that it was hard as hell to get and out of my new Recaro without the QR - then the decision makes itself.

There is no simple "yes" or "no" answer to your actual question, however.

K

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There is no simple "yes" or "no" answer to your actual question, however.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Are you sure the simple answer isn't just "yes"? As long as it's not going to fall off, in my limited experience I've never seen an HPDE student fail tech because of a steering wheel...

-Chris

 

Its not about failing tech, its whether one type of QR is inferior to the other - I sure as hell wouldnt want my QR hub to fail on track

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Its not about failing tech, its whether one type of QR is inferior to the other - I sure as hell wouldnt want my QR hub to fail on track</TD></TR></TABLE>

hell, it's not like you stay on the paved portion of the track anyway. From what I hear, you don't really use the steering wheel anyway - VIR?

 

Only hex and spline experience here but I would think it should be safe or either any use or no use. On something this critical I wouldn't consider something that "might be good enough for HPDE but not necessarily for racing". If it looks smart to you , do it. The hex systems are cheap, easy and proven and from my experience they have a tad less slop side to side (noticable when sitting still but not when driving) than the splined ones. I saw no need to reinvent the wheel so I went with the tried and true and cheap.

 

I've tried the ball bearing self centering type. I thought this is the best one so far. No slop and play whatsoever. Easy to use and self center! I'm tempted to use it for my race car. And the horn wire can be used to wire radio push button. If only my steering whel will fit without much modification.

 

I haven't seen those ball-bearing units. Link?

Edit: Google is my friend. Found some pics. I see how they work, and they are probably safe, but personally, they don't inspire confidence to me. Seems like not a whole lot of surface area to support the stress and keep it from turning.
On a "regular" QR, the splines or hex shape is what keeps the wheel and the column connected. There is just one ball bearing that allows you to pull the wheel out. If that ball bearing mechanism fails, you'll likely end up with the wheel stuck on, or at worst, the wheel being able to be pulled out - but you can still steer if you are careful to not pull up on the wheel.

On the ball bearing QR, if the ball bearing mechanism fails, you could potentially end up with a wheel that won't steer anymore.
just IMO, and based on the pics of the units, I haven't personally tried one.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sscguy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I still have no answer to my question: are the ball-bearing type quick-release hubs acceptable for track use? HPDEs, NOT racing. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Its not about failing tech, its whether one type of QR is inferior to the other - I sure as hell wouldnt want my QR hub to fail on track</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm sure he wouldn't want to lose the steering wheel. But, his question was "acceptable for track use?" and if it passes tech, it's "acceptable".

Acceptable == "Worthy of being accepted. Adequate to satisfy a need, requirement, or standard; satisfactory". In this case, that's just passing tech. I guess a Spongebob Squarepants steering wheel cover might be acceptable too.

Although, .RJ, I think your question is more interesting, as I know nothing about ball bearing QR's, nor have I heard of one failing that wasn't user error.

-Chris

 

Just because it passes tech doesnt meant it wont fail.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I haven't seen those ball-bearing units. Link?

Edit: Google is my friend. Found some pics. I see how they work, and they are probably safe, but personally, they don't inspire confidence to me. Seems like not a whole lot of surface area to support the stress and keep it from turning.
On a "regular" QR, the splines or hex shape is what keeps the wheel and the column connected. There is just one ball bearing that allows you to pull the wheel out. If that ball bearing mechanism fails, you'll likely end up with the wheel stuck on, or at worst, the wheel being able to be pulled out - but you can still steer if you are careful to not pull up on the wheel.

On the ball bearing QR, if the ball bearing mechanism fails, you could potentially end up with a wheel that won't steer anymore.
just IMO, and based on the pics of the units, I haven't personally tried one.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not one ball bearing. Total about 10 IIRC

 

Thanks for the replies all. RJ makes a good point, which I should've specified. Passing tech isn't what I'm concerned with really. I'm sure almost any unit would pass tech. I don't want it to crap out on me halfway through T4 at Summit or something, sending me into the wall. The bit about not being able to turn the wheel in the event of failure is another big one I'd like to avoid, so it sounds like my choice will be hex or spline.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Andrie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Not one ball bearing. Total about 10 IIRC</TD></TR></TABLE>

I understand that, but my point was that it is the same device that hold the steering wheel on the steering column in both "directions": vertical and rotational.
Maybe I am not clear in my explanations. sorry.

 

Here's the spline style and LTB Motorsports offers really great service too.

http://www.ltbmotorsport.com/dilquicrelhu.html