Should I replace my hubs? Options

[mesospeedy]

Ok, so if all goes well I'll have my car on track next month at VIR. I'm gonna be installing a Porsche Brake setup and maybe fabbing up some brake ducts. My question is, since my car has around 83k miles on it, should I go ahead and replace the hubs while I'm at it? My car will be mostly street, but I hope to start tracking the car more frequently. I want to make sure everything is in order (and safe) before it sees the abuse of some track events. Thanks in advance!

Michael

[Unbalanced Engin...]

I'd certainly check the free play in them. To do this jack the car up and push on the top of the front tire and pull on the bottom, then wiggle back and forth. If you feel any free play, replace your hubs.

HTH,

Jason S.

[mesospeedy]

Wow, quick response! Thanks, I've used that method before to check wheel bearings/hubs on other vehicles. I'll be sure to give 'em a shake when I jack the car up. I wasn't sure if that many miles would be a definate issue. If the hubs seem tight I guess I'll keep them on the car for a bit. I'll give them another check after the track weekend is over! Thanks alot!

[Unbalanced Engin...]

That sounds like a good plan.

Jason S.

[AllZWay]

The quality of these hubs seem to be hit or miss.

I have raced for 3-4 years on stock hubs that have 100k miles or more and I have also had one on my street car go bad with only 40k miles.

Like Jason...if they have some movement, then I would replace it and if they don't I would run them.

The problem is that there isn't a lot of warning when they go bad.

[rocky]

and if you have play have someone apply the brakes and recheck to make sure nothing else is loose

[z28jeff]

I wasn't sure if that many miles would be a definate issue. If the hubs seem tight I guess I'll keep them on the car for a bit. I'll give them another check after the track weekend is over! Thanks alot!

For some reason, the best hubs seem to be ones with alot of street miles. Lot's of people search junkyards for good "seasoned" hubs. Brand new ones right out of the box don't seem to hold up well to instant track/autocross duty. If the hubs feel tight, I wouldn't worry about them. But do check them frequently.

[mesospeedy]

Thanks for all the info guys! This site is awesome! I'll give them a good inspection this weekend, maybe the street miles have sort of seasoned them and I'll get a little more life out of them. Now I just gotta get off my a$$ and work on the car so it'll be done by VIR. I'm hoping to get some driving under my belt this year, and maybe find a good fixer upper for a track only car in the future!

[rocky]

If you have never been you are gonna love VIR.

[mesospeedy]

I've watched several grand am & trans am races there. The only time I've been on track though was with a friend in his 99 trans am on the parade lap before the world challenge race, so I'm anxious to turn some laps at a little faster pace! I don't plan on really pushing it though, just wanna learn what I can and get some seat time other than aggressive backroad driving. Gotta love living in the country on low traffic roads (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)