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Wheel Center Inserts

The Formula Mazda wheel centers are made from an aluminum and magnesium alloy. In addition to being very light in weight, the drive pins holes are also susceptible to wear and tear. The hub's steel drive pins can cause the wheel center's drive pin holes to become slightly oblong. After they become oblong, or egg-shaped, they wheels tend to move ever so slightly under braking and acceleration, but especially under braking. The resulting movement can then loosen the axle nuts on the left side of the car (the FM has right hand threads on the left side). To help solve that problem, and to extend the life of the wheel centers, it's possible to machine the drive pin holes and press steel inserts into the enlarged holes. Special thanks to Moses Smith Racing for supplying parts and lots of good advice, and for helping to keep Formula Mazda alive and well.

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Setting up the mill prior to milling
1
Setting up the mill prior to milling
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Dial gauge chucked in the mill spindle
2
Dial gauge chucked in the mill spind…
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Dial gauge moved through 180 degrees
3
Dial gauge moved through 180 degrees
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Adjusting the milling angle
4
Adjusting the milling angle
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A centering pin & a spindle collet
5
A centering pin & a spindle collet
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Pushing the steel pin into one of the drive pin holes
6
Pushing the steel pin into one of th…
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Clamping the wheel center
7
Clamping the wheel center
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Milling bit to drill an enlarged drive pin hole
8
Milling bit to drill an enlarged dri…
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Remove the centering dowel and insert the milling bit
9
Remove the centering dowel and inser…
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Testing 1, 2, 3...
10
Testing 1, 2, 3...
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Stop plunging the bit when the large diameter cutting begins
11
Stop plunging the bit when the large…
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New drive pin hole
12
New drive pin hole
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New drive pin hole and steel insert
13
New drive pin hole and steel insert
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Press in the steel insert
14
Press in the steel insert
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PB200188
15
PB200188
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What's up with the nut and the razor blade???
16
What's up with the nut and the razor…
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Three inserts completed
17
Three inserts completed
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Hub and steel drive pins
18
Hub and steel drive pins
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Wheel center mounted on hub drive pins
19
Wheel center mounted on hub drive pi…
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PB280198
20
PB280198
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PB280199
21
PB280199
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