The #6 Tickford Racing entry lost its left-front wheel in the latter stages of Race 1 at the Thrifty Bathurst 500 in what was at least the second instance of a Gen3 Supercar suffering a complete spindle failure, following a similar drama for Erebus Motorsport at last September’s Sandown ride day.
As such, there will be a change of specification coming online at some point in the next month or thereabouts, which Jones and Scalzo, Brad Jones Racing’s Head of Engineering, have explained in the team’s latest tech video.
Watch video below
The Gen3 spindle is noticeably skinnier than that which was used on a Gen2 Supercar, a change which allows wheels nuts to be clamped with about half the torque.
However, it would seem that, notwithstanding the material used to make the spindles, there is a weak point around the thread.
The redesign which is coming will also achieve a cost-saving for Supercars teams, through use of a cheaper material.
“What they’re aiming to do with the new design is strengthen it up in the areas that they feel like it might be weak, like through the threaded section, and also try and make the spindle itself more cost-effective,” explained Scalzo.
“Right now it’s made through a material called 300M, which is extremely high-strength but also very specialised; it’s used extensively in motorsport and in aircraft.
“Whereas, if we can move away from that to a material called EN26, which is still a high-tensile steel but much lower overall strength, it is much more cost-effective.
“So, we’re having to redesign this in areas to make sure it’s still adequate, still strong enough to do the job.”
Notably, Waters did glance the wall on drivers’ left at The Cutting during practice, although there are thought to be multiple factors behind the spindle issues, with a number of teams understood to have experienced cracking in that area during 2023.
With the change to a different grade of steel, there will be extra material added for the new-spec spindle.
“There’s a few small details but, basically, there’ll be some more material behind the thread,” added Scalzo.
“There’ll also be a small change to the bearing surfaces but, apart from that, it’s just looking at making the spindle much more cost-effective but still capable of doing the job.”
According to Jones, the new spindle will cost about $1800 per unit.
Supercars moved to a new spec of wheel bearing in 2024, enhancing durability.
VIDEO: Brad Jones and Paul Scalzo outline new Gen3 Supercars spindles
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