Rear wheel bearing question
 

I notice that some vendors stock two types of rear wheel bearings. One type is labeled ‘replacement’, has 12 plain rollers in 4 groups of 3. The other looks like the original, also with 12 rollers with spiral grooves in 6 groups of 2. Any advice on which to use ?

Thanks - Jim

Re: Rear wheel bearing question
 

Who is selling the ones with spiral grooves? They maybe old stock or? I am not aware of anyone making the original style bearing currently. By the way, they were not grooves, they were a strip of metal wrapped around a form to make the bearing roller. or is someone adding grooves to the solid type rollers? If you look at the original bearings, the grooves go in different directions, this helps move the grease around.

Re: Rear wheel bearing question
 

Smith and Jones has bearings with the spiral groove in their online catalog.

Re: Rear wheel bearing question
 

What is wrong with yours?
How do you plan on driving your car?

If they are not pitted or have the surface coming off and have the spiral grooves they may be fine. Measure them with a micrometer.

How are your hubs and axle surfaces? Often the bottom of the axle housing is worn substantially.

I went through a bunch I had laying around and found little reason why I could not use them. I had some old production new bearings I used.

Re: Rear wheel bearing question
 

I’m about t pull the rear axle to find out. I already know that I need to have the bearing surface on the housing turned down and sleeved, and one axle has a large chip broken off at the keyway. The rear wheel bearings on the car now came from Bratton’s about 30 years ago and may be OK to re-use.

Re: Rear wheel bearing question
 

Original rear wheel bearings rarely go bad if they had grease on them for their life. If the Brattons bearings have worked and they look OK, no reason not to use them.

Re: Rear wheel bearing question
 

I used to think that new bearings were cheap insurance but with the quality of the new bearings being sold I'd reuse the old ones in a heartbeat if they look good.


Side note, I also need to pull my rear end for a rebuild. Axle housings are very worn and need sleeving. Keep us posted on how it goes.

Re: Rear wheel bearing question
 

http://www.snjparts.com/105-Model-A-Seals-and-Bearings
The R ones look like V8 bearings for the hub repair kit.