Crack in hub carrier

Reckon you could weld them...but then you probably get into remachining the insert seats from heat distortion, and is it really all worth it...!?!
 
TimR said:
Reckon you could weld them...but then you probably get into remachining the insert seats from heat distortion, and is it really all worth it...!?!
Click to expand...
Aluminium doesn't distort anywhere near as much as mild or stainless if at all, coupled with there being a bush in there I can't see a problem with that .
 
Any cracks are a risk, they create a stress concentration point which will split the rest of a part. Negotiate well and you will get a replacement hub for a reasonable price - after all, how many of these cars have been broken and how many hub carriers have failed? Not many.

As for Italian alloy being ****, if you abuse a component it will fail, this has absolutely nothing to do with the original material, just the Neanderthals who hit them with hammers because they don’t know any better.
 
Lozzer said:
Aluminium doesn't distort anywhere near as much as mild or stainless if at all, coupled with there being a bush in there I can't see a problem with that .
Click to expand...

Maybe of you caught it early enough...sure.


Zep said:
As for Italian alloy being ****, if you abuse a component it will fail, this has absolutely nothing to do with the original material, just the Neanderthals who hit them with hammers because they don’t know any better.
Click to expand...

Yeah...totally. I wonder if folk hit them without appreciating they are made from ally. You could conceivably release a steel equivalent this way without the same level of risk..Not that Id ever do anything like that !!
:D
 
Now I am getting worried, it was pointed out to me that some numpty had done the same with my car, although I can't see any cracks or splits...YET!
64924
 
quite pleased that I stripped and inspected all my suspension arms 18 months ago to remove any with cracks (yes 2 replaced) and thankfully no signs of welding. It would never have occurred to me to try and repair one of these, i should have kept the old ones perhaps :)
 
Sorry the photo is not too clear. I had a small job done at McGrath's and before they work on a car they do not know they insist on a thorough inspection, no bad thing I guess. They picked up on the damage and when I looked. I could also see the hammer marks, so something I will have to keep an eye on
 
Has some sledge-hammer mechanic pounded on it? Hammering was the old method of changing ball joints. If it looks like someone has hammered on it you have your answer (hard to tell from the pictures). The ridge is not a weld it's part of the casting process. The cracks look consistent with hammering on the ridge. I would not drive the car with cracks like that.
 
hladun said:
Has some sledge-hammer mechanic pounded on it? Hammering was the old method of changing ball joints. If it looks like someone has hammered on it you have your answer (hard to tell from the pictures). The ridge is not a weld it's part of the casting process. The cracks look consistent with hammering on the ridge. I would not drive the car with cracks like that.
Click to expand...
Definitely not, replacement one winging its way to me now. Don’t want to come off the road on mountain section of TT track while giving it the beans.
 
Got in a bit closer, you can definitely see a hairline crack running all the way down the right hand side
 
Had one hub done last year due to stress crack. Had to source second hand hub for £100. The top ball joint split when taking it apart and you will probably need tracking done afterwards. All a bit of a pain really for a part that should be indestructible.

good luck.
 
When I look at the good picture in #31 that smooth flat spot in the centre sure looks like a hammer strike to me.
 
oh no! already need wishbones on my old 3200 - now it might need hub carriers? Need to run a spreadsheet to see if it is worth saving.
 
rs48635 said:
oh no! already need wishbones on my old 3200 - now it might need hub carriers? Need to run a spreadsheet to see if it is worth saving.
Click to expand...

As long as you haven’t been hitting them with hammers, you will probably be ok!
 
Finally got the hub carrier, just wondering whether I should swap out the track rod end while I’m at it. New ones are pretty pricey at £142.29 + postage. Anyone know of alternative ie Alfa Romeo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top