Kens front axle rubber caps - GET THEM !

David Chapman · Oct 19, 2007

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Now havethem fitted to my car, very impressed. Very well made, perfect fit, look better than those horrible and often rusty steel caps and really importantly they do the job. 

These really will save loads of wheel bearings - and it's not really a modification, it's a reproduction of a part that hasn't been available for 40 years ! Think about it, that outside front wheel bearing is the only bearing on Amphicar no protected by an oil seal ! Kens axle cap fixes the problem by making a water tight seal - but importantly it deflects to equalise pressure and stop water coming in past the inner oil seal. This was how that assembly was originally designed by Amphicar, see pictures in the workshop manual.

I've put a few photos and details here

http://www.amphicars.com/acartec3.htm

Now is a great time to fit them, use the opportunity to repack the front wheel bearings to remove the moisture in there before winter then fit them ready for next year. 

I know John Capon has some listed on Ebay - I'm sure John or Ken will post here the best way to buy them. 

David Chapman in the UK

capon23@aol.com · Oct 19, 2007

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David Chapman Says:

Now that I havethem fitted to my car, very impressed. Very well made, perfect fit, look better than those horrible and often rusty steel caps and really importantly they do the job. 

These really will save loads of wheel bearings - and it's not really a modification, it's a reproduction of a part that hasn't been available for 40 years ! Think about it, that outside front wheel bearing is the only bearing on Amphicar no protected by an oil seal ! Kens axle cap fixes the problem by making a water tight seal - but importantly it deflects to equalise pressure and stop water coming in past the inner oil seal. This was how that assembly was originally designed by Amphicar, see pictures in the workshop manual.

David makes a great point about the front bearings being the onlyarea of our cars that isnot completely protected from water. But now it will be.

If you buy a set of these rubber caps make sure you get Hugh Gordon's NEW double lipINNER FRONToil seal, one for each side...
The combination of these 2items is a sure marriage made in heaven that will keep the water out!!!

Ken Richter will offer a $10 discount per set ifyoupurchase 10 or more sets, So gather the Amphicar troops in your area and buy in bulk and save $100 on partsand $50 on shipping...

Contact me regarding large orders or check Ebay under Amphicar. We will always have 1-2 listed for your convenience...

CIGARMAN

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lah20car@aol.com · Oct 20, 2007

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In a message dated 10/20/2007 8:27:07 AM Central Daylight Time, wb6wsn@cox.net writes:
<blockquote style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid">When using these flexible rubber caps, what's the proper way to add the grease?</blockquote>

I would agree with David about filling the hubs and putting no grease in the caps---metal or rubber, mostly because it serves no purpose and may cause some unbalance with the rotation although it is centered with the axle.Another good thing about the rubber caps is it also eliminates all the grease mess inside your hubcap or on the wheel--------water can't getin and grease can't get out, plus its snap to put on and take off.

What I have done withmy carwas to install a grease fitting on the inboard side of the spindle just forward of the kingpin allowing me to pump grease in from the back, that way you can force whatever moisture may be in there out and since there is no pressure buildup as with a bearing buddy there is no grease going out the inner bearing seal.So what you are doing is packing your bearings without taking off the hub or bearings. Installing the grease fitting canonly be done while the inner bearing is off, so may not be for every one, but if anyone is interested, I am getting some foto's together to help explain it.After10 hours total water time I took the cap off both sides, pumped fresh grease in and saw no signs of moisture--- where with the metal caps it was a sure thing to see creamy, diluted grease.

Ken R



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WB6WSN · Oct 20, 2007

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From: amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com [mailto:amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of David Chapman
Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 1:58 AM
To: amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [amphicar-lovers] Kens front axle rubber caps - GET THEM !


Now havethem fitted to my car, very impressed. Very well made, perfect fit, look better than those horrible and often rusty steel caps and really importantly they do the job. 

These really will save loads of wheel bearings - and it's not really a modification, it's a reproduction of a part that hasn't been available for 40 years ! Think about it, that outside front wheel bearing is the only bearing on Amphicar no protected by an oil seal ! Kens axle cap fixes the problem by making a water tight seal - but importantly it deflects to equalise pressure and stop water coming in past the inner oil seal. This was how that assembly was originally designed by Amphicar, see pictures in the workshop manual.

I've put a few photos and details here

http://www.amphicars.com/acartec3.htm

David Chapman in the UK

</blockquote>
David:


When using these flexible rubber caps, what's the proper way to add the grease?

I suppose you should try to eliminate as much air space as possible. Should you fill the entire plastic cap and then slide them onto the hub?


<div align="left">Ed Price
<div align="left">El Cajon, CA USA
<div align="left">67 Rust Guppy
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David Chapman · Oct 20, 2007

> David:
> When using these flexible rubber caps, what's the proper way to add the
> grease?
> I suppose you should try to eliminate as much air space as possible.
> Should you fill the entire plastic cap and then slide them onto the hub?

No, I don't think so, I had a long chat with the guys at Amsoil and a few
other over the years about the best way to pack the front wheel bearings on
Amphicar. The design is normal taper roller as found on the front of almost
all rear wheel drive cars.

The normal way on a non-amphibian is to only half fill them with grease. The
view of most Amphi people, and what I do, is fully pack the bearings, I
think this is the best way, it's also what a lot of boat trailer owners do
(they use the same sort of taper roller bearings).

I don't think there is any need to pack the cap with grease - either the new
rubber one or the metal one.

Something else - the rear axle doesn't have any of these problems, the small
metal cap works fine there.

David C

Kens front axle rubber caps - GET THEM !

David Chapman

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capon23@aol.com

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lah20car@aol.com

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WB6WSN

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David Chapman

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