Took the snows off last night and couldn't remove a front wheel from its hub. Finally noticed that the metal edge of the hub center had two opposing (180 degree) splits which allowed the hub to widen out and be trapped inside the hubcentric wheel ring. I used a grinder to grind off the mushroomed metal and remove the wheel. The hub center is constructed so the outer beveled edge is thin, but becomes consistently thick (not tapered) as it approaches the rim. The thick metal was not ground down, so it has as much bearing surface for the wheel hub ring as before the surgery. What is unknown is whether the fractures extend into the thicker metal, but I doubt it given its stoutness. I was going to just replace the hub, but a new one is around $200 Money better spent on a scan gauge to locate the bad wheel speed sensor (another story). Any educated guesses about whether to replace the hub or keep riding on this one? Has this happened on anyone else's hubs?

Thanks for listening.

 

Replace the hub better safe then sorry. I have never heard of this on a Mini, good that you found it I wonder if a tire shop would of ever of told you or set you on your way?

 

I don't know the cost but you might be able to have it Dye penetrant tested on the car. This would tell you how far the cracks go.

 

Replace the hub...

k

 

Thanks all. That's what the little voice inside is saying. I've learned over the years to listen to it and not think things through. But, that's just the little voice telling me that. If anyone wants to help think this through, I believe the hub center is only there to align the rim to the axle center, but provides no support for the wheel, which is held to the hub by the lug nuts In other words, if the crack progresses, thee is no structural compromise of the hubs ability to connect the axle with the wheel Any support or criticism for this view?

 

That's my understanding, blue_agave. Try reading through these TSW notes and making more sense out of it than I did. The hub only centers the wheel. I wouldn't be afraid of the wheel falling off anytime soon, but I would replace at the earliest convenient time, and I'm also really wondering why it would happen in the first place.

 

That's an incredibly informative article RedSkunk which all should read. Now I wonder how wise it is to spray the hub face with anti-sieze or to install those paper/fiber spacers that keep the wheel from corroding onto the hub. It sounds like a wheel that needs to be hammered off the hub is a good thing.

I plan on replacing the hub when I need new rotors, which is likely sooner than later They are now 60K miles old, with lots of the original; pad remaining. I don't use the brakes very much. I will replace the whole wheely assembly on both fronts - - - just because.

I've also been wondering why trhe metal failed. It looked as if someone took a chisel, exactly the width of the hub center's diameter and whacked it until the metal split. I know this isn't what happened, but it describes the visible failure. The was absolutely no wheel damage (not even scuffs or road dings), nor any to face of the anodized hubcentric ring. The only people who've removed the wheels are me and the Mini dealer. Oh great mystery of Mini life