The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 50 2 ton wheel bearings and seals

Hey guys, So I pulled front wheels off to grease bearings and rebuild wheel cylinders. I found 2 different inner wheel bearings which isn't uncommon I guess. One was a timken 17888 and the other is a NTN 4T-17888 which was made in japan. The NTN bearing has larger collar which seal runs on by approximately 1/16th of an inch in circumference. I found the original Victor felt seals on ebay. They fit the Timken bearing nicely but no go on the NTN bearing. The PO had beat the dog poo out of the old felt seal to get it on NTN bearing previously but not wanting to do that again. So to make a short story long, does anyone know if there were updated seals for NTN or after market bearings? Also does anyone have reliable source for bearings or seals? I saw Jim carter had inner bearings for 166.00 but not really wanting to spend that. Tough rascals to find now days.

Tks, Doug

Have you contacted a bearing specialty supply house and given then your numbers? Most bearings and seals have lots of other applications besides our trucks.

Mike B

I haven't yet mike but will give that a try. Tks

Hy Doug R. I believe the entire original inner bearing was a KA11424Z the cone you have, part number 17888 is half of the entire bearing the other half is cup part number 17830. It appears that the original bearing or its components have been unavailable since the mid seventies. Those inner bearings had a projection towards the spindle and that was the surface that the seal/felt rode on. I know that bearings of the same dimension are available without the projection, it was suggested in a discussion years ago to use these bearings and have a machine shop reproduce a spacer to position the bearing correctly and provide a surface for the seal to ride on, hope that helps.

Tks for info fellas, I found Timken 17888 bearings and 17830 cups on ebay. They are the collared or barrel type tapered bearings. I got lucky and price was right. Fella still had 2 available if anyones interested...seller was Irontime1

Hy Doug R. a word of caution, the inner and outer bearing designs must match, so Barrel type inner bearing must have a barrel type outer bearing, this is because a tapered roller bearing and a Barrel type bearing do not adjust for clearance in the same way, hope that helps.

It all helps, tks for everyones input. I am using same outer bearings that were on truck and barrel type so should be good. Just waiting for parts.