Small crack in rear hubs

[TR7/8 TPI]

Upon cleaning and inspecting the hubs, I have found a crack in each one that is in the same place. I remember seeing a website a while back where the person was saying it was pretty common for them to get stress cracks in this area of the hub.

Is it ok to have this welded and have any of you had this done without having problems since? I have a friend who owns a machine shop and does a lot of aluminum welding so I would trust him to do it.

What do you guys think?
Thanks

 

[bmurphy7369]

TR7/8 TPI,

I am no mechanic but any fracture in such an area seems like an accident waiting to happen. If it is a stress fracture, then putting a bead of weld on the crack probably won't change the possibility of a future break... Maybe John Farrington can be of further help. He is very helpful and full of knowledge. Good luck and be careful. If the hub or hubs were to break apart it would be a mess.

Brian

 

[piman]

Hello TR7/8 PI,

I take it you are refering to a hub carrier?

I would be happy to have such a crack repaired provided the welder is a competent professional.

What car is it, it doesn't look TR to me.

Alec

 

[TR7/8 TPI]

Yeah it is a hub carrier and the crack is in the valley of the casting above the pivot point of the control arm.

It is an IRS from an 89 XJ-S that is going in my TR7.


<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by piman:
Hello TR7/8 PI,

I take it you are refering to a hub carrier?

I would be happy to have such a crack repaired provided the welder is a competent professional.

What car is it, it doesn't look TR to me.

Alec

<hr></blockquote>

 

[Dave Russell]

For what it's worth. Any metal has a limited fatigue life. "Stress cracks" (fatigue cracks) come from exceeding the limits of time & force for the particular metal. A given metal is only good for so many stretch or bend cycles at a particular load before it permanently fails. The cracks are a warning that the end is near. Pasting a filler on top will not cure the original problem of metal structure change. How deep is the crack anyway. I'll bet you can't tell without xray. Would you weld up a cracked aluminum connecting rod in an engine? Or a cracked rear axle shaft? It's your skin at risk. Do whatever you are comfortable with but don't sell it to someone without telling them about it.
D