I've been running hardened hubs all season (about 14 hours of track time) and I am going to be changing the bearings in the off season. While I'm at it, is there any way to check (or have checked) if the hubs are still good?
Do they develop visible or microscopic cracks before failing?

Reminds me that I need to order another set to put on my pretty spare spindles, courtesy of Adam.

 

If you have the hardened hubs, and the bearings are replaced before they fail completely, you will be fine.

Look for cracks and look for scoring from the bearings (which you won't have if you are replacing the bearings as a PM measure). If you don't have those things you are 99% golden.
Yes, there *could* be very small cracks that can't be seen with the naked eye. There *could* also be an armada of warring aliens on its way here to eat all of us. I don't worry about such things.

 

Would any of the magnaflux, etc. tests show this? I have never used them but recall my dad having old cranks and engine parts magnafluxed to see if there were any tiny cracks in them before rebuilding the engine.

Anyone else used these processes? It may be too old school now as my dad was doing it probably 30 years ago.

 

cool. I do worry about aliens, but then I put down the bong and the paranoia slowly ebbs away. Then I read a post by the other Scott, and feel an irresistible urge to pick up the bong again.

Time for a beer or 12.