A number of low cost wheel bearing hub units available in the aftermarket are claimed to be OE quality, and SKF performed a round of tests to see whether these claims were accurate. The low cost hub units were put through the same rigorous tests that SKF’s OE quality hub units routinely undergo to evaluate the structure and endurance of the product. The precision parts manufacturer uncovered some disturbing facts:
* Sensor wires were too thin to perform properly and could cause damage to the sensor and the ABS system.
* Badly designed sensor heads compromised the performance of the sensor.
* Low quality inboard and outboard seals allowed contaminants to enter the hub.
* Low quality metal with inadequate heat treatment left the metal brittle; traces of aluminium oxide caused spalling and failure.
The tests showed that some low cost hub units are likely to fail much earlier, reducing the service life of the vehicle and compromising safety. There is also a serious risk of losing a wheel if the flange is broken; a risk of excessive noise and vibration; and a real possibility of an ABS system malfunction because of the poor quality sensors that are used in some low cost products.
Roberto Marossero, wheel end product manager for SKF, said, “These tests show that some low cost hub units in the aftermarket are claimed to be OE quality but actually fall short of precise OE specifications. This situation is of concern and shows that the aftermarket should be vigilant when choosing hub units.”
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