We re going to nurburgring

[bluesrt]

Are they going to have the funding to do that? Seems like it would be better to wait till the sometime in September to run again and have some cooler weather.

they are leaving the cars there

[Vegaskid]

Best guess is Friday and if that doesn't pan out then August

[AZTVR]

The bridge to Gantry vlog this morning was amazing. It was refreshing to hear a logical person on the internet.

"Link"

Specifically, they are talking about the today's video where he talks about the Viper's effort and how it is more "real" than many other runs for record times that he has seen. A great "editorial" piece, IMHO

https://www.facebook.com/bridgetogan...7490434607281/

[100]

weather.jpg

[BlueAdder]

Looks like Friday is their best opportunity before delaying to August.
According to Wunderground that is.

[ACRucrazy]

The problem is they don't have time avail. My understanding is they won't have a time slot to book until August unless someone else gives up 15 mins or so of their time.

Even then it will be "you get 2 laps.. good luck.."

[Stealth]

All Manufacturers need to select a different track with good availability and without the virtually unlimited public access of the Ring. The tiny windows of opportunity and the cost of mounting attempts are just crazy! The practical reality is that manufacturers would almost need to complete the Ring laps as part of development and tuning of the car and each applicable model to consistently have results. The efforts of Private Team Viper are superhuman in this instance and it looks like it may be months if ever, to really find out what the ACRE can do. Thank you very much to all of the Viper Team and Sponsors. Your efforts are greatly appreciated and respected!

[Vypr Phil]

Getting back on topic.......Interesting that the Hubs seem to be failing on the ACR. Of course we know that the Ring is a long track and that the ACR is putting down an immense amount of downforce in which extreme force is added to by the curved banking at some parts of the circuit.

Wonder if there is going to be a Hub upgrade for current ACR owners as a result of this? I also find it interesting that this problem has not come to light from other owners who currently track their cars and of course the testing and various lap records that Dodge broke with the ACR in the USA?

Great post! Does anybody know the failure mode, weak bearings or hub casting fracture? IIRC, there were some rear hub issues on Gen 3 and/or 4. A vendor even made some stiffening brackets that would prevent catastrophic disintegration of the rear hubs in heavy track use or banging against a curb. This part would help avoid the car losing control because without it the rear wheel supported by the hub would send the car in a wild spin or even at the limit a rollover.

Hopefully a creative vendor with some engineering know-how could create a temporary solution to this ACR-E problem. Most likely the failure is the result of sustained high downforce at high speeds, a situation probably never encountered during development and testing. A virtual FEA analysis might have shown a weakness in the hub assembly.

[ACRucrazy]

A forum member had his rear hub fail on his 17 ACR within a few hundred miles (400?) of street driving. The car can't me more than a month or so old. It was on FB.

He found out by all the grease spattered inside the wheel.

[AZTVR]

Great post! Does anybody know the failure mode, weak bearings or hub casting fracture? IIRC, there were some rear hub issues on Gen 3 and/or 4. A vendor even made some stiffening brackets that would prevent catastrophic disintegration of the rear hubs in heavy track use or banging against a curb. This part would help avoid the car losing control because without it the rear wheel supported by the hub would send the car in a wild spin or even at the limit a rollover.

Hopefully a creative vendor with some engineering know-how could create a temporary solution to this ACR-E problem. Most likely the failure is the result of sustained high downforce at high speeds, a situation probably never encountered during development and testing. A virtual FEA analysis might have shown a weakness in the hub assembly.

It sounds to me like you might be referring to the aluminum rear knuckle that the hub/bearing assembly bolts into. At least, I know that there have been stiffener brackets for the mounting point on the knuckle that the rear toe link mounts to, which can crack if the wheel is subject to a substantial impact.

In the Ring cars' case, they were replacing the steel hub/bearing assemblies.

[Snorman]

A forum member had his rear hub fail on his 17 ACR within a few hundred miles (400?) of street driving. The car can't me more than a month or so old. It was on FB.

He found out by all the grease spattered inside the wheel.

Unless it's a different one, I posted in that and the hub did not fail. It flung some grease on the barrel of the wheel and it's common when hot. Mine did the same thing during the first track weekend and has not done it since. The bearings are not truly sealed and there is seepage when they are hot.
S.

[Snorman]

And I'm unaware of any of us who regularly are tracking the car having issues with hub failures on Gen V ACR's.
That includes myself, roncfp, Luke, Gary W., Javo, etc..
S.

[100]

I put an audio track on it.

- - - Updated - - -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIoRw8gP9AQ&feature=youtu.be

[ACRucrazy]

Unless it's a different one, I posted in that and the hub did not fail. It flung some grease on the barrel of the wheel and it's common when hot. Mine did the same thing during the first track weekend and has not done it since. The bearings are not truly sealed and there is seepage when they are hot.
S.

The dealer replaced it under warranty because they said it failed?

[Snorman]

The dealer replaced it under warranty because they said it failed?

It was leaking grease when hot because FCA overpacks the bearing race. From what I saw, that's probably why they replaced it. Both of mine did the same thing, and after 8 days on-track, they are fine.
So again, I'm unaware of any incidents of failed hubs based on my experience and of those who are actually tracking these cars.
I get info on these things from one of the most respected Viper techs in the country, not from people like you on the internet.
S.

[Vypr Phil]

It sounds to me like you might be referring to the aluminum rear knuckle that the hub/bearing assembly bolts into. At least, I know that there have been stiffener brackets for the mounting point on the knuckle that the rear toe link mounts to, which can crack if the wheel is subject to a substantial impact.

In the Ring cars' case, they were replacing the steel hub/bearing assemblies.

Thank you for the clarification.

[ACRucrazy]

It was leaking grease when hot because FCA overpacks the bearing race. From what I saw, that's probably why they replaced it. Both of mine did the same thing, and after 8 days on-track, they are fine.
So again, I'm unaware of any incidents of failed hubs based on my experience and of those who are actually tracking these cars.
I get info on these things from one of the most respected Viper techs in the country, not from people like you on the internet.
S.

Was anything I shared false?

[Fatboy 18]

And I'm unaware of any of us who regularly are tracking the car having issues with hub failures on Gen V ACR's.
That includes myself, roncfp, Luke, Gary W., Javo, etc..
S.

Well that's good to hear

[IndyRon]

It was leaking grease when hot because FCA overpacks the bearing race. From what I saw, that's probably why they replaced it. Both of mine did the same thing, and after 8 days on-track, they are fine.
So again, I'm unaware of any incidents of failed hubs based on my experience and of those who are actually tracking these cars.
S.

Hopefully this isn't what the crew overseas is calling a bearing failure.

I get info on these things from one of the most respected Viper techs in the country, not from people like you on the internet.
S.

Someone hanging around Jon B too much, lol. And it's not even Monday.

[Snorman]

Was anything I shared false?

I'm not sure that his wheel bearing/hub failed. Some grease flinging on the rear wheel barrel doesn't indicated the hub failed. He didn't comment that there was any grinding, wobbling, knocking, etc. AFAIK.
Like I said, between the people I know running these cars hard on-track and myself I am unaware of any documented hub/bearing failures.
S.

[AZTVR]

Was anything I shared false?

I'm not sure that his wheel bearing/hub failed. Some grease flinging on the rear wheel barrel doesn't indicated the hub failed. He didn't comment that there was any grinding, wobbling, knocking, etc. AFAIK.
Like I said, between the people I know running these cars hard on-track and myself I am unaware of any documented hub/bearing failures.
S.

Sounds like just a debate over the term "failed." Many people commonly use the term to mean "broke and doesn't perform its function properly, i.e. can't use the product as intended". Manufacturing people and others might use the term, "fail," as that it failed to perform as designed, such as, failed to keep the grease inside for its expected service life.

[bluesrt]

grease coming from the hubs is normal when running them hard in corners,my acrx did it pretty much right away and used them for 2 years running

[Fatboy 18]

Ok, lets put this another way, why did the New ACR'S at the ring NEED new Hubs? If it was just a bit of grease that came out of them then the mechanics there would have known the issue and just cleared it up. Something failed because the call went out to the community that they needed replacements fast.

So either the hubs got too hot and the bearings Failed or something else?

[ACRucrazy]

grease coming from the hubs is normal when running them hard in corners,my acrx did it pretty much right away and used them for 2 years running

I get what you guys are saying. I shared an experience of an ACR owner who had 400 street miles. That's all.

Sorry I mentioned it, that car had nothing to do with the Ring, I am done with that topic.

And as far as the Ring cars failure, this is the post on FB.

Day 4: Houston, we have a problem. In our past three days of testing, both Dominik Farnbacher and Luca Stolz had comments about the handling characteristics of the cars and we had never heard those issues before. So, today, being an off day, we took the cars back to the shop and re-strung them, realigned them, etc. After an entire day of going through the cars with a fine tooth comb, we discovered that the rear hubs (on both cars) have an unacceptable amount of play in them. We brought an extra hub with us, but never thought that we'd need 4. We go out on track Monday morning at noon. Is there anyone in Germany who can get us at least 3 (we would take 4 or 5) rear hubs that fit Gen IV or Gen V cars? If any of you have spares, we need them badly and will invite you to witness the runs if you can get us 3 (or more) rear hubs. Send me a private message if you prefer. We need them no later than Sunday afternoon. roasis@AOL.com

Anyways, hubs were sourced and installed and the update from today.

While I'm sure that Yousif Al Abdulah's intentions are good, his post is not accurate. We are here, waiting for the weather to break. We will be at the track every day until Friday,, which is our scheduled departure. If the weather does not cooperate in time, we will schedule times to return as soon as possible. This is a VERY difficult track in which to obtain ANY track time. Please do not believe any rumors that are out there (and there are a lot of them).. Bernie Katz and I will give you the true updates as soon as possible each day. Check the Viper Ring King FB page for additional pictures and updates. Thanks everyone.

Yousif's post came from Bridge To Gantrys post earlier.

The Vipers will do some more testing this week, and the boys will return next month for another crack at the record.

But what will the record be by then? A month is a long time at the Nürburgring...

[Policy Limits]

Man that's rough ...