Wheel Hub Failure on early SR3s

Wheel Hub Failure on early SR3s

Author
Discussion

abailey

Original Poster:

225 posts

266 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
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A couple of weeks ago I was using at Combe with my SR3 approaching Quarry at around 115 mph, braked and the rear left corner locked up big time. Fortunately I managed to keep the car on the black stuff but then had no power going to the back wheels.

Turns out that the left rear hub actually broke. Jacked up the whole hub and disc were flapping around in the breeze with the brake caliper being the only thing holding it reasonably level.

I have now been told (but not by Radical) this was a 'known problem' on the early SR3s and Radical changed the specification after someone had a major prang at Spa due to a hub failure.

I have to say that I am rather disappointed that Radical did not automatically check and change the hubs for me given that I took the car to them shortly after I purchased it for them to check it over thoroughly!

It would certainly be worth anyone with one of the early SR3s checking to ensure that their car has had the latest hubs fitted. Before they find out on track with potentially disastrous results.


Nildram

293 posts

269 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
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I saw the same thing happen to another SR3 at a race at Silverstone in early June. He was lucky not to do some serious damage as a result.

pstockley

46 posts

275 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
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The same thing happened to a SR3 being tested on a US car show. Lost the rear axle and spun out. I am amazed radical didn't do a recall or something.

Nildram

293 posts

269 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
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Don't forget that Radical are race cars. The warranty expires the minute you start the engine etc...

daved6

38 posts

287 months

Tuesday 24th June 2003
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The N/S rear hub assy failed on my SR3 after a couple of months and it was replaced FOC by Radical with no problem, they also replaced the Quaife transmission which failed later on FOC which I thought was good, although it did turn out that they had a few of these early ones fail.

Both of these components have been fine ever since, some 14 trackdays later, so the early teething problems do seem to have been sorted out

The only concern I have is the massive mark up they put on their spares, ie Facet fuel pump Radical charged me £95 for and it turns out I can buy them for £27.50, to name one example.

abailey

Original Poster:

225 posts

266 months

Friday 27th June 2003
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I just picked my car up and Radical have supplied 4 new hubs FOC. This is fair enough but I have to say that I think they should have at least alerted me to the potential problem given that they have had the car twice in the last couple of months. This sort of fault has the potential for a serious or even fatal accident and I think that Radical should be more proactive in ensuring that all their cars have the new hubs.

I agree 100% on their markup. I had to buy a set of bearings for the hubs and these were charged by Radical at about £180. Seems like a lot for bearings, I would have thought more like £20 a corner would be the cost at an auto factors.

LRdriver

154 posts

270 months

Friday 27th June 2003
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well they have to subsidise the Introsport somehow..