I just received these hubs that I bought off ebay(from someone on this board to remain nameless for now) and there appears to be a substantial wear area on one of the bearing surfaces. I can't believe this would be a "normal" thing, has anyone seen one like this?? The worn area is .020 smaller in diameter than the non worn area. The add stated they were in "LIKE NEW condition".??? It's actually kinda strange cause if it spun a bearing I would think the wear area would be the width of a bearing race. It almost looks like someone machined it to hide damage,

I believe these are unusable, unless someone can convince me otherwise.

Here's the diameter of the non-worn area.........

here's the diameter of the worn area........

I don't think what you are measuring there is a bearing surface. The rear cartridge bearing slides on there but the bearings ride on the race that's included with the bearing.

That means there's no surface rust! (after sandblasting them)

Actually I don't think there's anything wrong with the groove being there, as long as the hub slides into the bearing with a little resistance. Any machining to that surface will render them totally unusable and you will know it right away during installation.

As long as they go on there tight and are a royal pain in the butt to get on like normal I dont think that they would be a problem.

The only way that they would be a problem is if the inner bearing race didnt fit tight and they were able to slip when the bearing inside is rotating.

Ill have to go dig out a pair of stub axles... but from what I see dont worry about it..

Is that a step or a groove?

If it's a step....half the seating surface is .02 smaller that the other half, they are toast.

If it is a .05/08 or so wide groove....as it appears in the top pic, they'll work.

That groove lines up with where the inner race is split.

How it got there is a mystery. But like others, I wouldn't worry about it.

Do check for cracks on the tip. Little hairline cracks show up there, and make it useless.

Also verify that they are a -snug- fit with new bearings. If they were blasted, and -any- metal was taken off from there, they're toast.

Unfortunately, all real testing requires the axle nut to be torqued.

G.

Sorry, Maybe I should've explained it better. What you see in the first pic is not a groove, but a ridge where from that ridge to the base of the hub it is .020 smaller in diameter than the other half of the bearing surface. With this, I would think that the bearings inner race would be swingin' in the breeze for 1/2 the width of the bearing?? It almost looks like someone turned it down in a lathe, I think they're junk!

can they be tig'd and machined?

Yep, I agree. See if they will take them back......

I thought it was just a groove. If the inner half of the bearing surface is as you say, then it is useless and I suggest you expose the perp here and now so we can stone him.
There is no excuse for such false advertising.

I think it's only fair to let them make good on this before I flame them on the board. I'm really surprised by this, they seemed reputable. I'll report back here after giving them the opportunity to fix this......stay tuned!

E-mail him the link to this thread and give him a deadline to respond publicly.
"Like new condition" my ass!

If it's the vendor I think, because I was going to bid on these hubs, I am sure they will make good on the deal. If they dont then they can

That hub, should not be used, get a good one!

Ok.....so now I need another set of 1970 914 hubs. Does anybody have a set of the early hubs with both the 4 and 5 lug bosses available. I had a set of 914-6 stubs and was going to use 911 hubs, but I sold my damn stubs when I bought these, so now I'm stuck looking for another set of 1970 914 hubs! Anybody got a set available???

BTW - The seller has contacted me and is willing to accept the return of the hubs. I'll accept that the seller didn't realize the condition and didn't mean to misrepresent the item. This was resolved quickly and I would do business with them again! No need for any flames!

Sounds like you've been around the block a few times on your 5 lug conversion attempts. FYI, you can have plain vanilla 4 lug hubs drilled and studded for 5; I've been running a set of these for a couple years now through multiple DE's / AX's with no trouble. I had Patrick Motorsports do the mod, though any 914 savvy machine shop can do it; both Patrick and the related PP tech article say they're strong enough.

If you wind up with a set of 914-6 stubs again, I have a set of early 911 hubs available.

how soon do you need them? I have a 1970 parts car in the driveway but I won't be able to get in the garage for 3 weeks or so.

- Garold

I could probably wait a couple weeks for hubs. I've been waiting for a year to find 911 hubs when I had my 914-6 stubs. I now wish I hadn't sold my 914-6 stubs, I just figured I had these early hubs and I was good to go with my stock stubs. Let me know what you want for them when you pull'em???

Thanks Garold!

Send a PM in a few weeks to remind me.

- Garold

Edit - I just remembered Brad Mayuer telling me something about early 71's have these hubs. I have a 71 in the garage right now. I will look at the hubs Monday and let you know.