Then, the car developed an unhealthy clicking noise from one of the rear hubs. So I've bought some new bearings and all new hubs (they were on sale so thought I may aswell) and went to take the old stuff off and fit the new. So off came the old and I had a closer look and found the stub axle of the radius arm is damaged. I seem to remember the marks being there the first time I repacked these bearings, but didn't think much it because I couldn't feel it with my nail. This time however i've looked more closely and i'm not too confident in fitting my new hubs and bearings to this arm now, so looking for second opinions.
The camera flash highlights the damage and makes it look worse than it does to the eye, but either way the damage is there and is hardly confidence inspiring.
There is a ring worn all the way around the axle, this doesn't seem major as if can't be felt by a fingernail, but there is some areas of deeper damage, almost like hairline surface cracks which can be felt with a fingernail although only just. Even the part of the axle which the backplate fits over looks like its taken a beating somehow.
All I can think is that a bearing in the past has seized onto the axle and been removed with brute force. What do people think of this from the photos?
I would rather replace the arm if this is going to cause damage to my new hubs and bearings, and the rad arm on the other side of the car has slight play in it anyway so probably not long left in them as it is.
