Rear axle bearings

[peanutman]

Been to all the parts stores and they say they don't have the axle bearings. All the mags have them, but some are listed as rear wheel bearings. What should i be asking for and should local parts stores have these. Napa didn't have.

[fordman]

i think it is just a name they use i had to look up rear wheel bearing. heres what i found. i only used this site to do a quick search. not to recommend them or buy them myself.

[BobbyFord]

Only use Bower/BCA or other US made bearing. What diff do you have?

I have the 9 3/8" 31 spline diff in my '72, Bower bearing number RUB1580-EBFR $102.25 each...

[peanutman]

Only use Bower/BCA or other US made bearing. What diff do you have?

I have the 9 3/8" 31 spline diff in my '72, Bower bearing number RUB1580-EBFR $102.25 each...

Thanks bobby and fordman, i went back to napa and talked w/the experienced owner. They do have everything i need in the premium bearings. Looks like i will have to pull an axle to see which i need because they come in two different sizes.

I have the ford diff, not sure which size yet. Can i tell which bearings i will need without having to pull an axle. I wanted to get all my parts and do it all in a day.
Robbie
P.S. You do have to ask for rear wheel bearings not axle bearings otherwise most cannot find anything when they look them up.

[BobbyFord]

It's best to pull the axles and bring them in so that they can do the press work for you.

[fordman]

yes pulling an axle is the best way. and its not that hard. the hardest part is pulling the brake drum i think. well sometimes. you can find out which rear end you have by looking at the tag on the rear end. or if the tag is gone and the rear has never been changed the door tag can tell you also.

[BobbyFord]

...also, if the axle is stubborn after removing the 4 nuts and retainer plate, just flip the drum around backwards, put it on the axle, install 3 lug nuts a couple of turns and use the drum as a slide hammer to persuade the axle out...

[peanutman]

Thanks for the tips guys, sounds like a pretty easy job, to bad i don't have a bearing press.

[dcbullet]

I got my axle bearings from Jeff's Bronco Graveyard. They don't sell for our truck specifically, but they sell lot's of parts for 9 inch rear ends, of course. I needed a "big bearing" and described to them what I needed and they hooked me up. It was like $30 per side for the bearing and the seal.

[BobbyFord]

$30 for a 31 spline axle bearing sounds like a Chinese bearing to me. My U.S. made bearings for my 9 3/8" rear end listed for over $150 a piece, my cost was $102.25 each...

[dcbullet]

This was for 28 spline axles. They probably are foreign. I'll report back if they fail.

[binder56jd]

dang--hard to believe the prices on bearings & steel is way down--i did my 28 splines about 10 yrs ago--i had salvage yarded a 50,000 mi 3rd member and the axles, went ahead and had new bearings put on seems as iirc the bearing were 25 or 30 each and the machine shop cost 20--but a wfb (whole fing bunch) has changed in them 10 yrs(eons)

good luck pea

[DANZIG]

ok i was changing a rear tire on my truck, and noticed before i loosened any lugs or anything, I pulled on the tire and it pops out a bit. back and forth as if something is loose inside holding the axle in place. I also noticed that behind the wheel, gear oil seems to be leaking. Any one have any tips? Im totally clueless when it comes to these. All i ever done is keep the oil up on em


What I do know is
Its leaking, and you can actually pull on the tires and the come out about 1/4 in. back and forth but haven completely come out while driving hahaha

I tightened up the for nuts that hold the axle in and they are still leaky and pop out..

the truck is a 68 F100, the rear end is not original, my uncle got in from a 72 F100
its a posi- track, or trac loc?

ill get the tag off and try and read the numbers on here.


I have two more parts trucks with the regular nine inch that i could swap but i love this rear end cuz both wheels peel out

[peanutman]

ok i was changing a rear tire on my truck, and noticed before i loosened any lugs or anything, I pulled on the tire and it pops out a bit. back and forth as if something is loose inside holding the axle in place. I also noticed that behind the wheel, gear oil seems to be leaking. Any one have any tips? Im totally clueless when it comes to these. All i ever done is keep the oil up on em


What I do know is
Its leaking, and you can actually pull on the tires and the come out about 1/4 in. back and forth but haven completely come out while driving hahaha

I tightened up the for nuts that hold the axle in and they are still leaky and pop out..

the truck is a 68 F100, the rear end is not original, my uncle got in from a 72 F100
its a posi- track, or trac loc?


ill get the tag off and try and read the numbers on here.


I have two more parts trucks with the regular nine inch that i could swap but i love this rear end cuz both wheels peel out

Your seal is bad if it is leaking. Not sure on the in and out slack. I will be replacing my seals soon and while i have the axles out im gonna replace the bearings as well. Slack could be normal. Im sure it can be fixed for low cost vs changing the rearend.

[Alvin in AZ]

Holy smoke, that slack sounds scary! :(
Sounds like the pressed-on-retainer has slipped a little. :/
We'll know that as soon as you take the sucker apart. ;)
Just take it apart in your drive way instead of waiting
for it to take itself apart on the rod. LOL :)

--------------------------

Two types of bearings and you want to do all the work yourself at once?
Buy both sets and return the ones you didn't need. ;)
Tell 'em up front what the plan is.
I've never had any store clerk/owner/manager not like the idea.

Not unlike renting tool.

Alvin in AZ