Novatec hub issues – complete write off or just new freehub?

Hi all,

On my Patrol I’ve got the ubiquitous Novatec D462SB rear hub that comes on a million OEM spec wheels, and mine has now given up the ghost. Under heavy load there is a horrendous clunking sound if feels as if the cassette is jumping, which led me to believe that one of the pawls had broken. I’ve just taken the hub apart and found a big chunk gouged into the freehub body (all 5 sets of pawls look fine) so I gather I need to replace this as a minimum, but looking at the hub it looks as if there’s a big flat section that runs around the entire circumference of the hub ratchet too.

Now I’m assuming that from the profile of the pawls (thicker one on the inside, thinner one on the outside) this is meant to be there but just wanted to check?

I’ve taken a couple of pics below to show what I mean.

So yeah, as title really. Do I just need to replace the butchered freehub body or the whole hub?

The line shouldn’t be in the ratchet ring so I’d be worried that you replace the freehub then the ratchet ring breaks.

They are not great hubs so I’d replace the hub / wheel for something better & more reliable.

You’ll get a (lack of) wear line on the ratchet because there’s a corresponding notch in all the pawls where they don’t rub on the ratchet.

Me, I’d file any burrs off, clean and regrease it and see what happens next.

Has the pawl spring broken or any sign of any debris?

jonEdwards
…Me, I’d file any burrs off, clean and regrease it and see what happens next.

Me too…

Parts are available

https://www.eshop.novatecwheels.eu/eshop/ratchet-ring-33t-press-in-type-for-d462sb-d162sb-533-system/p-329926.xhtml

But as above I’d just file off any burrs and check the freehub bearings and if the paws still spring out give it a go

Cheers all. I thought the issue was being caused by spring across the middle of the freehub being blocked by the gouged part, so I filed that down, cleaned everything up and put it all back together and it’s still horrendous.

As it’s an OEM wheel I’m probably just going to replace it with something a bit nicer and hopefully not made of cheese.