The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Wheel bearing race wear

Hello,

I have a 1953 3100. I am redoing the front brakes and removed the bearings and races for cleaning and regreasing.

My front left inner race (the race to the inner bearing, that just sits on the spindle/and inside the hub, not the race that is pressed into the hub), is worn. As I am out of the USA, and parts are difficult to get to me. I am trying to understand at which point I need to be concerned about wear.

I can't get a pic right now, but the race is pitted, and there appears to be a grove worn into it. The bearings seem fine, with no 'obvious' wear. So, it is not apparent where this wear came from.

While the following link is for the outer set, and mine is inner, the race is similar to, yet larger, than the race on the far left of this pic.

Race

When I took this hub off of the spindle, this bearing remained stuck on the spindle. I am thinking that the PO didn't have the hub tightened correctly, and caused the hub to work a bit off of this race. Don't know.

In any event, I know that it is something that if in the US I'd just go ahead and replace. Right now I need to know what I CAN continue to use without cause problems down the road.

Any suggestions?

Normally the races and bearings are a set, can't really replace the race by itself. That being said, I'm sure many guys have. Classic Performance parts in Pacentia, Calif.USA, have a tapered roller set complete with races, bearings and seals for both front wheels for $59. Part #4654RBK. They will ship to foreign countries. They sell on ebay. Their phone number is 888 522 8303 toll free here in the states. I put a set in my '55 pickup and have been real happy with them.

I would not drive too far or fast on that bearing. If it heats up and starts to fail, among other things it can damage the spindle. I had an outer melt on my spindle and it wasn't pretty.

I would consider buying from the people on eBay. Paypal is a convenient way to pay when you are out of the country. And you can message them through eBay messaging. Toll free numbers don't work from outside the US. Calling regular numbers can be very expensive. My T-Mobile cell is reasonable. 20¢ per minute on a mobile network and nothing for calls made over WIFI. I have their international plan because I visit relatives in Europe several times a year.

Thanks. I hadn't seen this company before. I appreciate all of the input, and as I usually believe....don't ask for advice if you're not willing to follow it.

It is safety after all, and their $95 kit for the full front end, is a small price to pay. I'll just have to suck it up, and absorb more shipping costs.

Thanks,
Steven