1983 NJ Transit MC9 steel wheels hub vs stud pilot, tow brake, stair projects

[plyonsMC9]

Can someone please refresh my somewhat foggy memory?!!  I seem to remember that the 1983 NJ Transit steel wheels were either hub or stud piloted, but I can't remember which.  Been reviewing pix & trying to make certain but figured it was best to just ask rather than put out another one of my "comic relief" stories after the fact.     I believe I have a hub piloted wheel. 

We are getting close to our move across the country to AZ & getting last minute stuff taken care of.  About ready to finalize tow system, getting one of Craig's 24v to 12v converters, probably a Brake Buddy for the Jeep toad seems about right for cost involved.  Unless there are other thoughts?  As usual I'm running a little short on time w/only a little under 3 weeks to go.

Does anybody out there have a reference to a front stair refinishing project?  My Dad will be staying in the bus for a while and we have original worn-out stairs w/ bus carpet & looking for something more secure, safe, nice looking.

Jakes fixed & ready to go.  More to come  I am sure.    

Thanks all!

Kind Regards, Phil

[bkelly1011]

Hi Phil -
I'm not smart enought to tell with the wheels off, but I do know stud piloted studs are a two-piece deal with a square nut on the outside end of the stud.  The square nuts would be what you'd see looking in at the hubs); hub piloted wheels just have a regular-looking flanged nut on the outside.
Brad

[Sam 4106]

Hi Phil,

I will go out on a limb and guess that your picture is of the left front wheel position. If so then you have hub pilot wheels. Do the nuts have a flanged washer attached to them? Are both drive axle wheels held on by one nut on each stud? No square end inner nut? A Picture of the front wheel nut would help determine the kind of wheels you have.

Good luck, Sam

[plyonsMC9]

Is this picture more help?

Thanks again!

[oldmansax]

They are hub piloted.

TOM

[Oonrahnjay]

They are hub piloted.

TOM

    Tom, do you say that because you can see the flange at the inside bore of the wheel hub?  Is that flange what the hub pilots on?  (No experience with this, so thanks.)

[plyonsMC9]

Thanks Tom & contributors.  This assistance is appreciated.  Purchasing a wheel for my spare.  When I originally bought the bus, the wrong wheel was included as a spare, so when the tow truck came out to replace the wheel w/ the spare ...

Kind Regards, Phil

[oldmansax]

They are hub piloted.

TOM

   Tom, do you say that because you can see the flange at the inside bore of the wheel hub?  Is that flange what the hub pilots on?  (No experience with this, so thanks.)

Bruce,

Yes & no.... don't you love them kinda answers!  

The hub IS what pilots the wheel (hence the name "hub piloted"), but SOME stud piloted hubs have a flange also & it would be hard to see without a closeup (real close!) of the flange & wheel so you could see the clearance between to two. The telling factor in the picture is the nuts. Hub piloted nuts will have a flat washer type mating surface, which is clearly seen in the second pic; stub piloted will have a chamfered or beveled mating surface. The chamfer is what "pilots" or centers the wheel so it runs true.

Phil,

Now I'm going to mettle!    

The front hub in the picture is meant to be oil filled. Somebody painted the whole hub & wheel so you can't see the clear window & visually check the oil level. They also painted the rubber fill plug which should be red ( some miscreants made them in black but everybody KNOWS THEY SHOULD BE RED!!!   ).
You can clean those windows up with several hours of hand rubbing  using Hercules Wipes & buy some RED plugs at a truck stop!!

You don't have to do this right now but it should certainly be done BEFORE YOU DRIVE IT ANYWHERE THAT SOMEBODY CAN SEE IT!!!!    

Your friendly Curmudgeon,

TOM

[oldmansax]

double post

[Scott & Heather]

My plugs are blue. :-/


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[plyonsMC9]

Appreciate the oversight for sure!

Went out last night & re-did the wheel.    See attached pic.

Seriously very glad you checked that out.  I have had 3 of the 4 seals replaced over the past couple of years.  No more paint on glass (still wrong color plug tho') - it was an older pic.   Going to have a guy clean up & repaint the wheels before this trip.  

However, double checking the fluid levels after reading your post, I just got the bus back from MCI, using site glass, it looks like no or almost no fluid in right front hub.  No signs of leaking & this check showed needs to be fluid added as far as I know.

I just paid $300 for oil change & lube from MCI service.  Shouldn't these be checked?  I'm kind of upset with them at the moment as they also didn't want to check battery fluid level either.  Asked them to check the brakes, didn't do that either.  etc.  

But - I'm still kind of a noob with the mechanical & such.  So, it could also be I'm expecting too much.  What says the group?

Thank you!

[Scott & Heather]

Pull the rubber plug out of the sight glass and check your level. Should be just below the lip of the glass where the sight plug goes in. I fill mine with Lucas hub oil to the point it's dripping out of the sight glass. Plug it back up and you're set. It will leak out any extra as the hubs heat up and mess up your rims but it's one of life's hassles.


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[Oonrahnjay]

Bruce, Yes & no.... don't you love them kinda answers!   (snip)

     Actually, I DO love them kinda answers!  Very clear and a good statement of the factors involved in identifying wheels (now, I even know which kind mine are -- unless they're something weird that's neither hub or stud piloted!).   Thanks for the help.

[luvrbus]

All the NJT were hub pilot even the Eagles model 20's,so you are moving to AZ in 3 weeks if you are coming to the Phoenix area bring shorts and tee shirts lol it is starting to be over a 100 now Sat was nice only 80 degrees

100 degrees starting this early in the year it is going to be hot!till the middle of Sept


good luck and travel safe

[plyonsMC9]

Thanks Luvrbus   

No, Phoenix is too hot for me for sure.  Up in the mountains, Prescott Valley.  Are you in Phoenix?

Kind Regards, Phil