Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Hello, I am in need of a couple of rear wheel bearings. Both of my current bearings have a couple rollers that have formed pits.

In everyones experience what has proved to be a good source for these?

Ive been using Mikes affordable, good prices and close to me so shipping is fast. Their site doesn't describe where they were made though.

Ive just received all my brakes back from Randy Gross I hope to get everything together and not have to tear into it again anytime soon.. within reason!

I guess I should ask too if I should worry about it? Neither my hubs nor my axles look bad where the bearings where riding.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Try Mac's
www.macsautoparts.com/ford_model_a

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Thanks for the suggestion, They are actually cheaper than Mikes! Have you had any experience with the quality of these bearings?

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

I'd see if Bert's had some good used ones.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Originals rarely go bad and are plentiful. You never know what you will get with repro parts.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Are they originals with spirals?

Define pits?
Do you mean metal is flaking off?

Some minor pits are ok. Rust and flaking surface metal are not ok. Generally speaking an original bearing is going to work fine and last a long time.

Some people have reported issues with newer bearings that do not have the spiral grooves. I have new production bearings and chose to use original bearings. The cages and bear metal surfaces are not made as well as the originals.

I measured a pile of original bearings and found little if any wear in all of them.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

No not personally just giving a suggestion.You could also try Berts if you have not already done so

www.modelastore.com

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Here is one bearing, arguably the "worse". You can see some slight pitting on several rollers and you can see the path/marks on the rollers too. The hub has the same marks that can just barely be felt by finger

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Here is the second bearing. It has pitting on a couple of rollers only. bigger pits than the other. Its hub looks and feels smooth.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Here is the hub with the mark that can be seen and can just barely be felt by finger.

I guess I need to check my axle that matches this hub tomorrow when I've got some light.

My worry is just what you described Kevin. I have had terrible luck with bearings in the past year for any make of vehicle. I'd prefer to do any job once if I can help it!

I may give Berts a try thanks for the suggestion.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Did you factor in the cost of shipping for Mac's vs. Mike's? I'd use Mac's as a last resort but that's JMO.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

No 51504bat I haven't factored in shipping yet. They will probably work out to about the same price. I know mikes will get the parts to me within a few days.

I would probably agree with you on Mac's, I don't like the ecklers group in general from past experiences. But thats neither here nor there!

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Looks like it might fit a Russian Model A from the 30's.
https://www.macsautoparts.com/model-...8-26239-1.html

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Call Steve at Berts.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

In my experience with reproduction wheel bearings I have found the end cages to be by heat treated and to soft.This allows the rollers to wear the cage get free,also metal worn from the cage permeates the grease and starts wearing the hub and axle races.This happened in about 1000 mile an my car.
If you buy new bearings at least check the end cages buy running a file over them.If the file removes metal and doesn’t just bounce over them they are to soft and will wear out rapidly. Damage from poorly made wheel bearings can get expensive.Just trying to save someone from experiencing what happens to me . Dennis

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

FWIW&INHO&HO (honest&humble ) opinion,
Speaking from purely a bearing company perspective,
Whenever we get calls&enquiries for these bearings,
UNLESS we can be guaranteed the brands are USA or EURO/UK Made,
We stay away &are NOT interested in buying them.WHY?,
Because at one point/stage we're buying them in BOWER brand ,
They're made in the USA (Mexico),
THEN they (FM) switched to China,
NOW (here in Australia) BOWER/FM are NO longer making ANY journal wound rollers,
I DON'T know if that applies to RBC or other USA bearing companies,
Both euro&uk bearing manufactuers stopped making these kind/type of wound journal roller bearings decades ago.One of your Australian members Arnold Chivers,
Has come up with a metric new modern conversion for these wound journal bearings,
I'd strongly advise ANYONE to go this route,
Regards&thanks,
Adrian.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Hello,there was a previous post on problems with rear bearings, also a post about using long fiber grease made by Penrite that is meant for drum brakes ,if I can find my can will take a picture of it tomorrow.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

I remember that long fiber grease from the 50's. Sears Roebuck and Wards sold it in large cans. I think I still have 1/2 a can somewhere in the garage.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

That looks like acid etch pits, but honestly I cant tell for sure. You do not seem to have a rust problem.

They are a low speed bearing and what you have might take thousands of miles to have a problem if properly lubricated. Most people would never drive enough for it to be a factor. They dont just fail and leave you some place, they would just start getting noisey telling you to do something.

The hub bearing surface wears towards the bottom as the weight causes the axle end to bend up. You need good tools to measure it. One option if you are really worried is the bearing liner kit and later bearings.

Honestly I would just lube it up good with wheel bearing grease, pack it well and go with it. I would only be more concerned if you were building to run thousands of miles a year at highway speeds. Even then what you have is likely to be fine.

Have you measured the bearing surface on the axle end? They can be very worn on the bottom. This will cause the hub to move up some messing with your brakes.

I would worry way more about your brake conditions. Are you brakes with cast drums, centered with shoes sized to the drum? Do you have all new known good parts in them?

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Well Kevin, while sitting here thinking of responding, you said just what I was thinking. Those bearings and hubs are good for a very long time. Happy I didn't do all that typing now. Your spot on.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Thanks everyone for your responses!

Thank you Kevin for the details and honest answer, and Russ for the back up on that.

To answer you Kevin the brakes are all new, new cast drums, new liners on the shoes fitted to the drums. I just got them back from being redone with Randy Gross.

In hindsight now I should have just asked Randy what he thought about the bearings once I got everything back. As a matter of fact he ended up calling me and explaining exactly what you said Kevin. He actually saw this thread and took it upon himself to give me a call about the bearings. Im not sure why I didn't even think to give him a call he was so helpful with all my questions and concerns previously. If I didnt feel good about his work before, and I did, I certainly do now! That phone call was was extremely comforting and welcomed! Thank You Randy!

I think Im just going to give them a good healthy coat of grease and ride them. Realistically I probably won't be putting a ton of miles on the car in a year and most likely not much at highway speeds if it can be helped. Not because I worry about the car but more because of these other people driving with there cell phones and whatever else going on.

Now if I could just get the time to reassemble and enjoy the ride. It seems summer is finally beginning to show itself. Im eager to get out there and cruise in my A.

Oh and I have not thoroughly checked the axle. I've run a finger nail over the surface in a few spots with nothing felt to worry about. Good call I might ought too do that while im this far in.

Thanks again you guys are a great help.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

Sorry for late reply, this is the grease that I mentioned in earlier post, bought it off EBay.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?
 

FYI
The can of brake drum grease shown in post # 22 is the same grease that we sent with this brake job and all others brake jobs that our customers approve of us sending.

Re: Rear Wheel bearing source?