My front left wheel hub broke at the track yesterday. I felt something was wrong and was able to drive off the track, but when I jacked up the car, the whole wheel assembly rocked back and forth.

We winched the car up onto a trailer and got it back home, but rolling it off trailer may have broken some other parts. (Late on Saturday night, I couldn't leave the car at the shop where it will be fixed.)

So I need to get it to the shop without putting any weight on the front left wheel. When I had a wrecker at the track, before deciding to trailer it home, the driver said he couldn't use his hook because it would break the car's plastic nose. I don't think it will be possible to use one of those tow trucks that lift it up by cupping the front wheels, because the left front can't support any weight, and the carrier could do more damage to the underbody. I think that winching onto or off a flatbed could also do more damage.

So what other options are there? In short, how would you transport a car with no front left wheel?

Thanks for your advice.

 

Now that I've had a closer look, the part that broke is the hub that actually holds the wheel and brake rotor onto the bearing. The outer portion with the lug bolts just sheared away from the center hub in a nice pentagonal section.

Fortunately, it doesn't look like any other suspension components were damaged, although brake rotor will have to be replaced and the caliper got a little banged up.

But the car still can't roll on the front left wheel. So I may still have to figure a way of getting it to the shop, and answers to the question above are still welcome.

But I'm wondering if I might be able to fix it myself. In the official 350Z service manual (Page FSU-8), they label that whole assembly, including the bearing and the arm it's attached to, as the axle. But they don't show a procedure for replacing the hub (or the bearing) by itself. Does anyone know if it would be easy for me to do it myself without any special tools?

Thanks.

 

I have never replaced a hub bearing, but it should be pretty easy. Try unbolting the hub and go from there.

They sell used hubs on e-bay off of wrecked cars for a really cheap price for 350Z's. Another option to make it a cheaper fix.

 

Ur going to have to use a "suck up" truck ---It has a flat bed that angles down like a ramp then winches the car up, then levels out for transport. U have an Eye bolt with ur jack that scews into the front of the car to attach the winch to. If the guy knows what he is doing , there will be no more damage

 

And a Hub Brging , is a easy fix---IF that is all thats wrong

 

On a side note - when you do replace your hub bearing - could you check with Nissan if there is another car or truck with the same hub. The one on our cars is pretty sloppy, and if a heavier vehicle matches it would probably be stronger.

 

Nissan only knows part #s ---If u get into a beefier hub assy, u would be getting into a larger diameter assy that wouldnt fit and may very well have a different wheel stud spacing.

 

Would you be able to put a wheel dolly under the wheel so it doesn't have to turn? That way you could get it onto the flatbed.