Upgrade your bearings

[jim81147]

I have read many of the threads regarding hand pack vs. e-z lube and I notice that in many of them , the posters state that they replace the "junk" wheel bearings with good quality bearings . That argument makes sense to me . I have not come across a thread yet that states where to get these quality bearings or how to go about getting the proper sizes. Can someone enlighten me? Thanks.

[Skip426]

The wheel bearings you remove should have part numbers on them , that can be cross referenced , by any parts supply facility.
Trick is to make sure the new parts are from a known brand name, and the parts are stamped . Made in USA. Not Brazil or China, countries that use too much rusted re-cycled steel in their products.
Insist on opening the box and checking the country of origin before you buy.

[jim81147]

by parts supply facility , do you mean a place that deals only in RV stuff or a good auto parts store also? Thanks for the advice.

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by jim81147

by parts supply facility , do you mean a place that deals only in RV stuff or a good auto parts store also? Thanks for the advice.

Good auto parts store, should be a better price, there.

[Walt Bennett]

If anyone's said this about actual EZ-Lube bearings, they're full of it as you'd have to replace the entire hub (including the brakes most likely). The real ones are in a hub specially designed to allow grease to flow in through a center hole and then back and eventually out through the bearings. The whole thing is sold as a unit.

[Ramets]

Originally Posted by Skip426

The wheel bearings you remove should have part numbers on them , that can be cross referenced , by any parts supply facility.
Trick is to make sure the new parts are from a known brand name, and the parts are stamped . Made in USA. Not Brazil or China, countries that use too much rusted re-cycled steel in their products.
Insist on opening the box and checking the country of origin before you buy.

X3. I learned the hard way. I had a right front bearing go bad, and since it had to be replaced, I told them to do both. Well a year later the left front started going bad. Had it checked and was told it was Chinese. Had the other side pulled and looked at and sure enough it was the same. Had both replaced with American. To say the least I was pissed!!!!

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by Walt Bennett

If anyone's said this about actual EZ-Lube bearings, they're full of it as you'd have to replace the entire hub (including the brakes most likely). The real ones are in a hub specially designed to allow grease to flow in through a center hole and then back and eventually out through the bearings. The whole thing is sold as a unit.

There are EZ-Lube & Never-Lube , bearings ; EZ-Lube, that I had on my last 5er, and hand packed, because I didn't like the fact that the used grease from the inner bearing was accumulating in the hub between the bearings, and if not cleaned out would eventually be forced into the outer bearing. The EZ-Lube axle SPINDLE, is drilled to distribute the grease. I never had a problem getting seals or bearings for service.
The Never Lube bearing set up, is a replace; the entire hub assembly ; when a bearing fails.
I haven't worked on any of those, but can't see any reason to replace brakes, unless the linings were grease contaminated when the bearing fails, which is possible no matter what the bearing set up.
The Never Lube set up; has the advantage of being a bolt on assembly that includes the spindle. A set up that most autos have started using.
A bearing failure on a standard or EZ-lube axle that damaged the spindle, could result in the need to replace the axle assembly; a very costly repair.

[jim81147]

I swung by the local Napa Auto Parts store today and they quoted me $325 plus tax for 5 inner and outer bearings with races and said that they may or may not say USA on them . That seemed kind of high to me . It did not even include seals . Does that seem correct to those that know? The counter guy told me that Timken ( what I had originally asked for ) was not that great of a bearing anymore . Is that the case?

[Skip426]

So 10 bearing sets; rollers and races; at $32.50 average.
I haven't had to buy any in a number of years , but that does seem high.
Did you get the part numbers so you can shop online?
Are you in a large enough center , that would have a bearing specialty store?
Used to shop at the " Bearing & Bolt Bin" for bearings , Don't know if that was a one store deal, or a franchise operation.
There was a copper mine, just out of town so they did a lot of business.

[Rvpapa]

I changed out all mine a couple of years back. Got all Timkens that were engraved "made in usa " Cost at the time with seals around $250.
Found the best place for bearings is to look under " Transmission Supplies" or something like that. This is not as you might think automotive. It is for industrial power transmissions as in heavy equipment. Much better choice and information than going to NAPA. I do use NAPA for most other things though.
Art.

[H. Miller]

Most "somewhat" larger cities have bearing only shops with bearing specialists that can match your requirements with no part numbers required...Austin, Tx. has 3 of them and like magic, they are listed under "bearings" in the Yellow Paages.

[whem2fish]

Motion industries has several shops in DFW

[jim81147]

Originally Posted by Skip426

Are you in a large enough center , that would have a bearing specialty store?

No I live in a little town named Pagosa Springs , we don't have much of anything except a feed store . I might try Graingers , we have one of those about 90 miles away and I will Google transmission repairs also .

[dieselclacker]

Try Kaman bearing.