AVM Manual 4 x 4 Hubs - Be aware of the drawbacks
Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 23, 2009 at 16:18
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Member - Tony & Julie (FNQ)
Have just had an issue with these hubs that deserves to be posted for a buyer beware issue.
I recieved my car back from a service the other day, I was told that they needed to adjust the front wheel bearings and had damaged one of the bolts when removing the Hub Cover, they had to drill it out. (What they did not tell me was that they did not replace it and damaged the gasket, but that is another story).
Thought I would
check the other side when I found they had not replaced the bolt. When I tried to remove the bolts the same thing happened, I damaged the bolts Allen Key head. It seems because of the tapered head and the very small size of the bolt, that this may happen often. I had to drill this one out as
well.
Then the problem - Try and get a service kit for these hubs. Our local supplier of AVM Hubs where I got them from says they are available but will take some time to get and they will cost around $80. (Give me a break). Bolts are not available on their own.
Basicly I would have to put this product into the cheap and nasty pile due to this experience. My advice is stay away from them not because I had a problem but because this is a definite design flaw that may catch you out when you are out and remote.
Cheers Tony
Reply By: guzzi - Tuesday, Jun 23, 2009 at 17:46
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2009 at 17:46
So you having a ham fisted and not very attentive mechanic is the hubs fault?
Go to a Bolt specialist and buy some quality high tensile bolts and replace the hardened cheese things that are breaking, factor in a couple of dollars each at most. Use a torque wrench to tension the new ones to the correct torque. Don't know what the correct torque should be?
Call your AVM supplier back and ask, but its not very high.
Buy some gasket paper and you can make your own gaskets cheaply.
Ask your mechanic why he didn't use a torque wrench and wait for an interesting answer.
Cheers
AnswerID:
371536
Follow Up By: Member - Tony & Julie (FNQ) - Tuesday, Jun 23, 2009 at 18:15
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2009 at 18:15
guzzi - Why you jump to incorrect conclusions is anybody's guess! I was there when my very good mechanic installed the hubs with his tension wrench to the required settings. So there is that theory shot down in flames.
I assume it may be the tapered head over time jamming against the body of the unit, but hey do not let facts spoil your assumptions. :-)
I was very careful trying to remove the bolt, I have had many years of doing my own mechanical work and thus know some tricks. In the end that bolt would not budge until the hex head was damaged too much.
The supplier recognized the problem, so there is one and not necessarily attributed to bad mechanics. Cheers Tony
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Follow Up By: guzzi - Tuesday, Jun 23, 2009 at 20:28
Tuesday, Jun 23, 2009 at 20:28
OK,
Fair points.
I'll pull my head in and just blame small bolts of dubious quality.
Reinforces what happens when you "assume".
Cheers
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