Hey all, I needed some new wheel bearings for the front hubs on my '54 3600. I'm new at these old bearings so bear with me. The old ones were 3 piece, inner presssed into the hub, ball bearings in a metal cage and the outer bearing. So far, simple. I purchased a B45 (outer bearing) and a B46 (Inner bearing). Both are modern. When I inspected the new B46 bearing I saw that it was like the old one. 3 pieces, 2 races and the ball bearings but in a plastic cage. Plastic cage? Cost cutting I guess. Whatever but it did come apart like the originals. The B45 bearing was similar in construction to the B46 including the plastic cage BUT unlike the B46 it wouldn't come apart in the three pieces I expected. I tried to seperate the three pieces, and was tempted to use a hammer but stopped there. After all these bearings are not cheap.
So here's my question... Should the B45 come apart like the others? If so, how do I go about separating it without destroying it?
In advance... Thanks!!
1954 3600 Stakebed non-original engine out of a '55 passenger car with powerglide
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12 '52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
The B45 should come apart into the three individual components to match with the original GM# 909045 front outer wheel bearing assembly pictured below.
We definitely need to see what you received as a "B45" bearing as it sounds like you got the wrong part.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Well I'm pretty sure i have the correct part, the ID if the inner and OD of the outer race match perfectly. Click the link below for pics of what I have. Everything looks right just that the 3 pieces don't seperate.
Looking at the pictured bearing, it appears to be similar in design to the original, but as you say evidently does not separate.
Since it has the same dimensions as required, perhaps it's meant to be installed as a one piece unit, driven into the outer hub bearing race recess. Guessing once you drive it into place, then you'll have to hand pack the bearing with grease and it stays in the hub while sliding the hub over the spindle. I suppose you could pre-pack the bearing with grease before driving it into the hub, but you'd need to be sure and clean the outer surface of the unit before installing IMO.
I've personally not seen a bearing like this, but perhaps other Bolters have???
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Well since I last posted I worked with the inner bearing that I bought, a B46. Same construction with a plastic cage around the ball bearings. Out of the box it was 3 pieces as expected. After the inner race was installed in the hub the cage and inner race did not want to seat correctly. A little "tap" and it went together. I went back to the B45 and got more agressive seperating the 3 parts. After looking at it it did seeem to be machined a little differnt, there was a small lip that prevented the bearing from separating. Deliberate or not I don't know. Seems that not allowing the cage to be removed would make packing the bearing with grease almost impossibe since it would have to be installed or removed as a unit. Oh well, in the end it seemed to work out. Thanks!
1954 3600 Stakebed non-original engine out of a '55 passenger car with powerglide
