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| | | | Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 20 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 20 | Hi Guys,
I am new around here, mostly I can be found hanging around on the Dodge Power Wagon sites. My neighbor has a 46 ton and a half Chevy and has asked me to do a bunch of work on it. First are the wheel bearings and seals. I had heard from another Chevy truck guy that there were kits available for converting them over to roller bearings. I placed an order for some goodies at Jim Carters and they said they didnt have the kits for the ton and a halfs. Do you know if others offer this or am I best to just stick with the ball bearings? Also, the wheel seal they sent me is a felt seal. I sort of expected a neoprene seal. My experience with felt seals is that they are great at waering grooves into the mating part.
I have a reprint of a factory servive manual thats about a half an inch thick that covers cars and trucks for a bunch of years. Is there anything out there that is more model specific?
Thanks for putting up with my questions. If this truck was a Power Wagon I could do it in my sleep but I want to get it right. I hope to learn some of your tricks along the way!
Thanks,
Tim | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,837 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,837 | If the ball bearings are in good shape, clean them up, repack, and keep on truckin'. They ran untold millions of miles when these trucks were new, and they were loaded down like real trucks then. Yes, the felt seals will wear out spindles, but I believe the inner ball bearings have an extended area where the seal runs, making the seal surface replaceable, plus that bearing race is hard as woodpecker lips! I don't know if there are drop-in replacement roller bearings available, but a little time spent with a master bearing catalog and a dial caliper might allow you to come up with suitable replacements if you really want to do an upgrade. Ditto for lip-type grease seals. It's really not necessary, however.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 50 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 50 | I ordered the front bearings and seals from Jim Carters and they gave me neoprene seals. I wonder why you got felt ones? The kit you are talking about is only for 3/4 ton and small I believe from what I have found. For both bearings, races and seals on for the front I spent only about 150 per side at Carters.
Last edited by 49' Hayhauler; 02/06/2009 1:45 AM.
1949 Chevy 4400 GrainbedIn the Stovebolt GalleryPhotobucket picturesThe taxpayers are sending congressmen on expensive trips abroad. It might be worth it except they keep coming back! Behind every successful rancher is a wife who works in town.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 20 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 20 | Hi Jerry,
Thanks for the response. Are you saying that the inner bearing race is the wear area for the seal? It will make more sense to me when I gt one pulled apart.
I also got thinking about the ball bearings and came up with the same thought, plus this truck will lead a pretty sheltered life once it is back in service.
Hayhauler, that is interesting that Jim Carter's sent you neoprene seals. I may swing by the local bearing shop and see if they can spec out a neoprene one.
Thanks guys,
Tim | | | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 50 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 50 | The brand they are is SKF if that makes a difference. The part number on mine is ME309 (THe carter number). I ordered them this last month. When did you order yours? Maybe they have switched to the neoprene.
1949 Chevy 4400 GrainbedIn the Stovebolt GalleryPhotobucket picturesThe taxpayers are sending congressmen on expensive trips abroad. It might be worth it except they keep coming back! Behind every successful rancher is a wife who works in town.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 20 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 20 | Thanks for the SKF info. I just got them this week, maybe they were out of the neoprene ones and went back to the old standbys!
Thanks again,
Tim | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,837 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,837 | I'm not sure about the big rigs, but on a lot of the passenger car and pickup ball bearings, the inner race on the rear bearing is extended far enough for the seal to ride on the race, not the spindle. When doing a substitution with roller bearings, sometimes it's necessary to fabricate a spacer behind the roller bearing cup for the seal to ride on, and LocTite it to the spindle.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,144 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,144 | I got neoprene seals for my 38 from Jim Carter, They were also available fom local parts house when I damaged one. | | |
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