QR (Quick Release) Steering Wheel Bosses
Discussion
Following on from Bi22le's very sad write-off but fortunate escape without serious harm, I thought I'd share my findings from when I researched and shopped for a QR boss for my V8 Dax Rush.
Bi22le has yet to confirm the make / design of snap-off QR Boss fitted to his ride, but I suspect it was the type of design like the SPA QR1 boss, with no locking facility and one collar type QR sleave mechanism : these I discounted from my shopping list due to the risk of them not positively clicking and locking in to place.
I eventually opted for the sort of boss shown in the picture via the following link :
http://www.minisport.com/acatalog/info_SPD144444.h...
The advantage of this type of boss are as follows:
1. The "unique" positioning of the locating pegs mean that no 2 bosses are the same and so someone with a wheel and same make/model of snap-off boss still could never get it attached to your car to steal your ride.
2. The inclusion of 2 spring loaded side-entry precision fit locking pins (at 9 and 3 O'clock positions means that it is positively "locked" in place in seconds, and nearly impossible to take off whilst on the move (not that you'd ever want to of course).
3. Additionally there is a removable brass lock barrel (which acts as a 3rd side entry locking pin) and key which mean you can lock the whole thing together before setting off for a trip, and that the wheel couldn't simply be nicked if you leave it on such as at petrol stations.
When I track-day my car I remove the brass lock barrel so that if I ever had a major "off" I could speedily remove the wheel by pulling back the 2 side entry spring loaded locking pins and make my escape (hope I never have to do this though !!!).
Anyone thinking about a QR boss for their car really ought to visit a supplier of this type of boss and have a look / play with it before opting for any other design, and weigh up the pros and cons (only "con" I could find was relatively higher price and that its appearance is not quite the thing of beauty that some of the more race derived QR bosses look like).
Happy and safe motoring
best regards
Mark
Bi22le has yet to confirm the make / design of snap-off QR Boss fitted to his ride, but I suspect it was the type of design like the SPA QR1 boss, with no locking facility and one collar type QR sleave mechanism : these I discounted from my shopping list due to the risk of them not positively clicking and locking in to place.
I eventually opted for the sort of boss shown in the picture via the following link :
http://www.minisport.com/acatalog/info_SPD144444.h...
The advantage of this type of boss are as follows:
1. The "unique" positioning of the locating pegs mean that no 2 bosses are the same and so someone with a wheel and same make/model of snap-off boss still could never get it attached to your car to steal your ride.
2. The inclusion of 2 spring loaded side-entry precision fit locking pins (at 9 and 3 O'clock positions means that it is positively "locked" in place in seconds, and nearly impossible to take off whilst on the move (not that you'd ever want to of course).
3. Additionally there is a removable brass lock barrel (which acts as a 3rd side entry locking pin) and key which mean you can lock the whole thing together before setting off for a trip, and that the wheel couldn't simply be nicked if you leave it on such as at petrol stations.
When I track-day my car I remove the brass lock barrel so that if I ever had a major "off" I could speedily remove the wheel by pulling back the 2 side entry spring loaded locking pins and make my escape (hope I never have to do this though !!!).
Anyone thinking about a QR boss for their car really ought to visit a supplier of this type of boss and have a look / play with it before opting for any other design, and weigh up the pros and cons (only "con" I could find was relatively higher price and that its appearance is not quite the thing of beauty that some of the more race derived QR bosses look like).
Happy and safe motoring
best regards
Mark
Gingerpaul,
The boss I have is a bolt on (no need to weld an extension splined column stub on like some of the motorsport QR bosses like the SPA one), and I have driven the car hard on track and runway days without the brass lock barrel in place, and never had any problems (in ~ 5 years of driving). The quality and robustness of the design / engineering, and the actual tolerances on locating and locking pegs is very good (and I am both a metallurgist and qualified engineer).
The only maintenance it requires is a light smear of WD40 on the 2 spring loaded locking pegs once or twice a year (otherwise they can feel like they have stuck in place after a long hard track session or country lanes blast).
I can recommend it ..... but like me you sound like you need to see, feel, and fondle the real article and discuss with others who have them before commiting to the time / expense of buting and fitting one !
cheers
mark
The boss I have is a bolt on (no need to weld an extension splined column stub on like some of the motorsport QR bosses like the SPA one), and I have driven the car hard on track and runway days without the brass lock barrel in place, and never had any problems (in ~ 5 years of driving). The quality and robustness of the design / engineering, and the actual tolerances on locating and locking pegs is very good (and I am both a metallurgist and qualified engineer).
The only maintenance it requires is a light smear of WD40 on the 2 spring loaded locking pegs once or twice a year (otherwise they can feel like they have stuck in place after a long hard track session or country lanes blast).
I can recommend it ..... but like me you sound like you need to see, feel, and fondle the real article and discuss with others who have them before commiting to the time / expense of buting and fitting one !
cheers
mark
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