mid-ohio crash
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 804
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From: Las Vegas, NV
My front left hub came apart on track a few years ago: the casting broke and a pentagonal piece with the wheel studs just separated from the rest of the hub. I don't recall hearing anything. The handling just got strange, and I slowed down and came into the pits. At that point, the only think holding the wheel on the car was the rotor in the caliper.
First time the Z had to be towed home from the track. Fortunately, it was Summit Point, my home track, only 75 miles from home.
If I can find the pictures I took, I'll post them.
First time the Z had to be towed home from the track. Fortunately, it was Summit Point, my home track, only 75 miles from home.
If I can find the pictures I took, I'll post them.
I was going to post this in the SpecZ thread after reading about 2 Z's with brake failure this weekend... but didn't want to derail the thread.
I'm not SpecZ, but I also experienced brake failure this weekend. Did some reading over the wekeend and seems like ABS Ice mode - or some hub issue causing a similar reaction. A guy named Ralph Provitz was on the T2 team with the Z that started this thread - his team determined a hub failure led to the brake failure in that case.
My brake pedal had pressure.. the car just didn't slow down. Thankfully I wasn't going as fast as some of my other laps due to a missed 3-4 shift at the beginning of the straight.
Stoptech ST-40/Hawk DTC-70 fronts, Brembo (OEM)/Performance Friction PFC01 rears.
Here's my video -
http://youtu.be/FWHnWVNDFsk
I'm not SpecZ, but I also experienced brake failure this weekend. Did some reading over the wekeend and seems like ABS Ice mode - or some hub issue causing a similar reaction. A guy named Ralph Provitz was on the T2 team with the Z that started this thread - his team determined a hub failure led to the brake failure in that case.
My brake pedal had pressure.. the car just didn't slow down. Thankfully I wasn't going as fast as some of my other laps due to a missed 3-4 shift at the beginning of the straight.
Stoptech ST-40/Hawk DTC-70 fronts, Brembo (OEM)/Performance Friction PFC01 rears.
Here's my video -
http://youtu.be/FWHnWVNDFsk
I think I've posted this somewhere on this site:
On the 350/370Z the front hubs are consumable items for cars that spend any time on a race track. They must be inspected and crack tested on a regular schedule and replaced at the first sign of any fatigue. If you can't afford the inspection, then replace the hubs and front bearings on a regular schedule. The cost is about $250 per pair with good Timken bearings. I would replace them every 12 to 18 track weekends.
On the 350/370Z the front hubs are consumable items for cars that spend any time on a race track. They must be inspected and crack tested on a regular schedule and replaced at the first sign of any fatigue. If you can't afford the inspection, then replace the hubs and front bearings on a regular schedule. The cost is about $250 per pair with good Timken bearings. I would replace them every 12 to 18 track weekends.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 804
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
I think I've posted this somewhere on this site:
On the 350/370Z the front hubs are consumable items for cars that spend any time on a race track. They must be inspected and crack tested on a regular schedule and replaced at the first sign of any fatigue. If you can't afford the inspection, then replace the hubs and front bearings on a regular schedule. The cost is about $250 per pair with good Timken bearings. I would replace them every 12 to 18 track weekends.
On the 350/370Z the front hubs are consumable items for cars that spend any time on a race track. They must be inspected and crack tested on a regular schedule and replaced at the first sign of any fatigue. If you can't afford the inspection, then replace the hubs and front bearings on a regular schedule. The cost is about $250 per pair with good Timken bearings. I would replace them every 12 to 18 track weekends.
I guess I was lucky to have gotten 67 track days out of that one when it died on me.
that is impressive in itself!
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 804
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, NV
I had 67 track days in the Z at the end of 2006. I'd had 27 days in other cars (Miata, 944T, Skip Barber school, etc.) at that point (I started doing HPDE in 1999), and as of today I've had 135 altogether on 20 tracks in more than 9 different cars. I had as many as 18 days per year back at my peak (2004-05).
But I'm scaling back, and probably won't have any days this year. Planning to sell the Z and get something that's a little more practical as a daily driver and an occasional track car, maybe a WRX (STi, if I can afford it) or an E36 M3.
But I'm scaling back, and probably won't have any days this year. Planning to sell the Z and get something that's a little more practical as a daily driver and an occasional track car, maybe a WRX (STi, if I can afford it) or an E36 M3.
I think I've posted this somewhere on this site:
On the 350/370Z the front hubs are consumable items for cars that spend any time on a race track. They must be inspected and crack tested on a regular schedule and replaced at the first sign of any fatigue. If you can't afford the inspection, then replace the hubs and front bearings on a regular schedule. The cost is about $250 per pair with good Timken bearings. I would replace them every 12 to 18 track weekends.
On the 350/370Z the front hubs are consumable items for cars that spend any time on a race track. They must be inspected and crack tested on a regular schedule and replaced at the first sign of any fatigue. If you can't afford the inspection, then replace the hubs and front bearings on a regular schedule. The cost is about $250 per pair with good Timken bearings. I would replace them every 12 to 18 track weekends.
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...p-apwidC3LF419
I had to buy a new one from Nissan so I could continue driving this weekend.
Yep. I've been to quite a few HPDE's, done some reading online, I guess listening to enough people repeat the same things helped me. If nothing else, I demonstrate how to go off safely. 
I'm hoping to help pinpoint the cause of this type of brake failure though. I did hear some kind of strange noises just prior to the incident (in the full video) - maybe that would help point to a hub or something else. Does hub failure/damage have a distinct sound?
I'm hoping to help pinpoint the cause of this type of brake failure though. I did hear some kind of strange noises just prior to the incident (in the full video) - maybe that would help point to a hub or something else. Does hub failure/damage have a distinct sound?
Last edited by scotts300; Sep 17, 2012 at 01:55 PM.
Even if you find a supposedly stronger part, you will still need to perform a regular inspection to determine for yourself that the part has a longer mean time between failure. I would not rely on a post on a fan boy site regarding the strength and fatigue cycle time for a front hub.
Supposed to be a stronger bearing , noting about the actual hub. Fontana Nissan says they run them on their race car. Don't know how well they mount up to the stock spindle.
Scott when you say many track days, how many, about? 40/50? I know you're a track junkie and not some guy doing a few a year, thats why I'm asking.
I've tracked my car for 4yrs now (minus last year) and I've done about 25 in 3 yrs. My car has started making very minor noises and I'm thinking of having mine replaced just to be sure
I've tracked my car for 4yrs now (minus last year) and I've done about 25 in 3 yrs. My car has started making very minor noises and I'm thinking of having mine replaced just to be sure