Bicycle Mechanics - fractured hub

I recently had a hub on a 700c rear wheel reduce in width due to what appeared to be the hub body actually fracturing, the resultant effect was to push the bearing out to the side as there was no room for it inside the hubs main body. there was no heating up from the bearings as I had only just staeted out on the ride. The wheel had been built by a good wheel builder and the component parts of the wheel were recommended for heavy touring, has anyone come across this before

I have found out the answer to the above and it is a simle case of the exterior metal on the hub fracturing, I would be interested to know if anyone else has come across this before:confused

What brand and model was the hub? I have seen flanges fail, and lots of bearings. One thing I have noticed was that the more the hub cost, the more spectacular the failure. I've had Shimano hubs that just stopped working, had to change the freehub and I was back on the road. Other well made hubs when they failed would leave me stuck waiting for parts. I'm not saying there bad hubs, but few shops stock parts for the high end stuff.So if your on a tour your stuck.

For loaded touring I have had very good luck with Shimano XT stuff. Another name I would go with... Phil Wood. Very good stuff but you pay for it $400 or so for the rear hub. Most bike shops have Shimano stuff in the shop. Some shops have even pulled parts of bikes on the floor to get me back on the road. It helps to ask nice, and tipping dosen't hurt.

If there's any way you could post a photo of that, I'd like to see! :eek: