cracked hubs

[oakknight]

I started on my rear disc brake cobversion on the 14bolt this afternoon. When i got the axle shaft out and inspected the hub i noticed 4 cracks in the hub on the long axis of 4 of the threaded bolt holes. I noticed they were fullof harded rtv. of several colors . This is my first time in the axles myself. Obviously they were over torqued it seems.

do they still sell replacements or will I have to go to salvage yard?

 

[Cornfield creations]

wow, never seen that. I believe they are junk yard only. Unless you happen to come across some NOS somewhere

 

[1BEATK5]

the holes where full of rtv. then the bolts where installed with a large inpact gun. the rtv only compresses so much before it basically hydrolocks. somthing had to give. it was the hub this time. those bolts normally would break in this case, but 14b axleshaft bolts are huge.

 

[oakknight]

Yes I think you are correct. there were 2 or three kinds of hardened rtv... and that wall is much weaker than the Bolts.. 3/4 in Head on them . Found these
http://www.rpmoffroad.com/product/1122/Rear+Replacement+GM+14+Bolt+Hubs.html

 

[sweetk30]

i got a line on some good used ones. possible.

and fyi unless you know the axle or blind bolt hole always run a tap down the holes to remove the rtv the dumb a$$ retard use to much of. and SLOW and STEADY or you can break the tap from the forces in the hole with rtv.

i know you didnt do it but this is a general statment.

and thay use gaskets on these axle/hubs. around 5 bucks each new. and reusable.

i had a few holes over the years that took 2-3 times with tap to clean out even with it coming up the slots on the tap as going in the hole.

 

[oakknight]

There was no sign of the mentioned axle flange gasket just way too much RTV.
I was able to get it out with an electronics pick.

 

[GMC1977]

We use the ZEP products RTV at work all day. They warned us about getting it into the holes as it will crack the cases. we just normally use a pick to get it outta the hole unless it the hardened factory crap...then a drill bit works wonders