PSA: Cheap Hub Assemblies

[zraffz]

When I restored this Tahoe, I didn't cut any corners until it came to the hub assemblies... The local shop only had the cheap Chinese brand in stock. I got about 40k miles on wheel spacers and 35" tires.
Driving one day, I heard the slightest bearing squeal when turning left. I knew what it was and about 25 miles later - this happened.

Never made a constant bearing growl/grind. I heard a bang, as I slowed down the steering got very hard to steer to the shoulder of the road (at this point the hub had sheared). As I stopped on the shoulder of the road, the brake caliper bracket broke and this happened.


Damage was minimum. Destroyed the CV shaft, brake caliper bracket and hub assembly. The fender was tweaked back towards the door but I should be able to straighten it out. I will stick with Timken like I always did in the past. At least they growl and groan before they blow up. Redid both sides, CV shafts and a few other neglected things for $360. Tow truck driver couldn't load the truck on the flat bed so I assisted. I couldn't beat the $150 tow bill to go 10 miles considering it took us an hour to load it up (great guy, he let me remove the tire and get it out from under the truck).

Thank God I was going slow when it happened!

 

[Rocket Man]

You definitely got lucky that you were going slow. Hubs aren't something to go cheap on for sure. Another vote for Timken.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Wow. Glad you're OK and the damage was minimal. Definitely Timken time.

 

[zraffz]

I've always used timken on all my trucks, I just didn't want to wait for them to be shipped (this was while I was installing the lift).

I have the timken hub assemblies waiting installation but I'm currently working on a bobcat 743 skid steer (basic maintenance/fuel filter/oil change/exhaust/hydraulic lines) for my brother so I don't have the time.

 

[Goodinblack]

Wow.

That could have been a lot worse

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[zraffz]

Wow.

That could have been a lot worse

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Yeah... The first thing that went through my mind was thankfully my wife wasn't driving with my son in the truck. As soon as I heard the bearing race explode, I slowed down immediately.

 

[Shaw520]

Geeze,... imagine driving a mnt pass with little or no guard rail !!

 

[Scottydoggs]

cant help but think the spacers and 35's had a lot to do with this. nothing like putting twice the pressure on it.

i ran 33's on a 8 lug hd 2500, snow plowed with it. it used to eat hubs every other year. but never came apart. my work trucks did 3,000 miles a month, so id get 60,000 miles roughly out of them.