Hubs Separating AGAIN!!!!!!!

Low and behold, the rear wide 5 hub I replaced because it was separating is separating again.

To recap: in September I replaced the right rear hub assembly on my Beck because the iron core separated from the aluminum outer casting. CB Performance replaced the part promptly. Now the very hub I replaced is separated again.

Question to the group: WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME??? Or more acurately why is this happening to the same hub, again? Aside from the hub possibly being "bad", I am wondering if there are other conditions that are contributing to this....

Is the right rear the "driving" wheel that under "normal" conditions puts the power to the pavement? The same hub keeps separating, maybe the hubs can't take the power?

Would a misaligned drive line (axle, wheel, whatever?) likely to cause some sort of weird stresses on the hub?

I have a CB 2165 motor (182HP on the Dyno) and I have a rather heavy foot, but I assumed the car could take it.....

Any thoughts??????

How about the brake caliper mount being off and when the brakes are applied the misalignment is twisting the hub apart?

Hmmmm. Good thought Bert! I was assuming they were separating due to acceleration forces. Never occurred to me to check decelleration forces!

I'll check that out this weekend when I take it all apart to replace both sides.

THANK YOU for your reply! That's what these forums are for, sharing thoughts and ideas....

Doug

Doug,

I'm the guy on the east coast with the hub problem. As I said, only the left seperated. I also have a CB 2165/182hp engine. We cannot be only ones with hub and engine combination. If there is anyone else out there, please let us know. As far as having a heavy foot, that's what the car is for!! In my case I have so many problems I'm still breaking the engine in. Very light on the peedle, varying rpm and loads. So I cannot believe your heavy foot has anything to do with the problem. I am sure you torqued the axle nut to 350ft-lbs, just a question.

My problem summary;

*Dirt in fuel system, one carb had to removed and cleaned
*Bad speedo cable
*Hub separation
*Out of round Front rims .065in causing vibration above 60mph
Fibersteel replaced the rims, thanks Russ.
*The top does not fit. Not a problem if you live in sunny CA. The winter is closing in on the north east.

Again anyone out there with 5 bolt hubs and 2165CB engine let us know.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I can't believe we are the only ones with that combo.

Only your left went. And only my rights are going. Strange.

I replaced the bad one yesterday and looked at the brake alignment. Everything there checks out. Everything torqued down properly.

I'll replace the other side today, but we'll probably have to wait until the spring to find out what happens. The temps are dropping here and we are supposed to get snow Wednesday:(

Doug

Hey guy's, are you referring to something similar to electrolysis or compression and stress cracking, and if it is the latter where exactly is it happening..., another words is it pulling the bolts out of the back side of the aluminum face where the steel spline hub section is at

David,

The hub is constructed with a cast iron core that has a hole with the splines inside that slip over the end of your axle. The iron core is cast into an aluminum hub that is machined to the right shape. The studs are set into the aluminum. Also your disk brake is bolted to the inside of the aluminum hub.

What is happening is the cast iron core is separating from the aluminum hub. It just loosens up enough to wiggle a few thousandths of an inch back and forth. Multiply that over the diameter of your tire and the tire edge moves about a half inch back and forth.

I have talked to CB at length about this and they have told me that they have only seen two cases of this over several thousand hubs they have made. The other person who experienced this has also posted right above.

CB has been nothing but helpful, concerned, cooperative, apologetic, etc. They have done every possible thing they can and have treated me fairly beyond my expectations. The separation has happened twice to me so far and CB has replaced both hubs with no hesitation. I shipped my loosened hubs back to them for analysis. I have not heard the final word on why the separation was happening.

Hey Doug! Sorry about the hub issues. Something has got to be twisting it for it to keep seperating like that. You really should consider trailering it to Munks Motors in Waterford, Michigan. This would be a great time for us to meet. Chris, the owner, sorted through my car and I'm 100% sure he would find your problem.

Seriously, let me know. I'm like you; I want to fix my own car. I finally had no choice but to take it to Munks. I didn't have enough vw knowledge to fix my problems. I learned a lot from them. They let you get hands on with them in the shop.

Tony

Hi Tony!

We've been through everything. Alignment, brakes, drivetrain, etc. Everything is as it should be. The only thing we can figure is the casting process was bad in a certain batch of hubs. I'll know more this spring when I get the car out again.

On that note, the car is now sitting over at a local shop ( Monks is a little too far to leave my baby alone) to get a roll bar installed, along with some suspension tweaks for the track this spring.

Yo mentioned the local PCA might be having a meeting at Monks in Feb? Let me know and I'll see if I can make it over!

Doug

Cool Doug. Is your local shop fabbing your bar from scratch, or did they find a manufacturer that makes one that will work? If they are fabbing it could I possibly get the specs? I want to track mine, but I can't find a roll bar that will work. Last year, fabbing one was out of my budget.

Tony

Has to be fabricated from scratch. I searched long and hard and so did the shop I am using, and they do a LOT of cages and bars.

I'll get all of the specs together and pics too and see if I can post a tech How-To article or something.

Not sure on the price, we're just going to dive in. I did discuss a budget with them, but until they get into it they really can't tell exactly what they will run into.

I'll keep you posted....