MTFCA Forum

Driving the 1912 touring car down the driveway hill there was suddenly no brakes. Then no forward or reverse. Used the tractor let the car the rest of the way down the hill and pull it to the garage. Fearing the usual broken drive train innards, upon inspection it was discovered that the right rear hub had broken. The inner core (basically the diameter of the hub cap) was yet keyed to the axle but the rest of the hub was spinning freely. The hub was not (yet) separating, wheel not about to fall off, but it was loose and wobbling a small bit. Looking at spare hubs it looks as if the hubs are solid castings, but they are in primer so if there is a seam it is invisible. OK, this dilemma is new to me. What happened? Is this disintegrated hub some sort of cheesy aftermarket thing? My two options are trying to replace the hub, hoping the spokes don't fly all over the shop, or welding up the broken "seams". Looking for knowledge and advice.

Posting pictures would help determine what the issue/solution could be. Best John

I'd never trust a hub to a weld. Replace. If you're careful the spokes will stay put.

Likely a rare occurrence, but your hub is toast now, so find a good replacement. Check it carefully for any cracks too!

Here is older post of same thing happening, and my add to it, as on tour in TN years ago, same thing but none could diagnose. Thought it was the rear end, took that apart on the tour, but was ok. Then found the funky broken rear hub


https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/5 ... 1451600361

There are, (or more accurately "were"), no seams. The hub is a one-piece forging. As others state, do not weld. Replace.

The most common reason it happens is that the spokes are loose against the hub stem, and it doesn't have to mean they are major loose but they aren't really pressed tight against the hub stem and so you turn a corner in the car and the strain on the wheel makes it want to bend a little. Being bolted to the backing plate on the hub keeps it from bending, but any looseness in the spokes against the hub stem and the backing plate says "I need to bend a little", the stem say's "I can't bend as I'm connected to this rigid axle" the backing plate says "I'm Bending", and you end up with a 2 piece hub. Factory Ford hubs. Experience speaks.

Ed aka #4

I believe the hubs are a casting rather than a forging. Cast iron makes for a rigid item which does not like to be flexed, like the loose spokes mentioned in the previous post. Had the hubs been forged steel, such damage is much less likely, as a forging will take load differently. I too have had experience with such breaks, resulting in no brakes!

Allan from down under.

I had that happen back in 2015. I have no doubt it was due to a 'repair' done on the wheel whereby the spoke ends were no longer bearing against the axle part of the hub. So, all the cornering forces were transmitted through the flange.