Hub seals scare
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A survey carried out by leading oil seal distributor, Barnwell Services, has revealed alarming differences in performance between various over-the-counter truck and bus hub seals.
Using the laboratory test facilities of Federal Mogul and CR Industries, it has been shown that under test conditions certain readily-available unitised hub seals are failing after as little as five hours.
According to Barnwell Services technical manager, John Mead: "Ten years ago, certain manufacturers were deliberately making products that looked very similar to market leaders such as the Chicago Rawhide green and Federal Mogul red seals.
"Today these look-alike seals often bear no identification numbers. It is only when they are dismantled to reveal a lower manufacturing quality, bench tested or fail in service that suspicions may be first aroused."
With oil seal failure causing oil to spill on to the drum, braking efficiency is reduced and complete lock-up becomes a danger. The Department of Transport Vehicle Inspectorate is asked to investigate around 750 HGV accidents a year and normally about one quarter of these relate to brake defects or incompatibility problems.