Front Wheel Bearing Dilema

[Bruzilla]

I'm looking for some information about front wheel bearings. The outer bearing on the driver's side wheel failed and I tried to replace it but ran into a problem.

When I replaced the wheel studs, I found there were apparently two types of rotors put on 74 road runners, identified as Kelsey-Hayes and Motor-Wheel. Based on the studs I pulled from it, we identified my rotors as Motor-Wheel units.

I got a set of inner and outer bearings at Autozone, but the inner bearings were way too big and it looked like the outer bearings were a little too big, so I'm guessing I got bearings for the Kelsey-Hayes rotors?

So I was wondering if anyone else has had this issue, and are there in fact two different sizes of wheel bearings, and how can I identify the correct set?

 

[Cranky]

If you have a bearing supply house in your area, go there instead. I started doing this 35 years ago! And Auto Zone is about the worse place you can go....at least the ones around my area are. They should be able to cross reference the numbers from your old bearing too....that is if you can find someone that still knows how to use a book.

 

[Dodge33]

If you have a bearing supply house in your area, go there instead. I started doing this 35 years ago! And Auto Zone is about the worse place you can go....at least the ones around my area are. They should be able to cross reference the numbers from your old bearing too....that is if you can find someone that still knows how to use a book.

Cranky...........you hit the nail on the head for sure, definately go to a Professional bearing company near you and try to locate it, good bet they have it, or can get it. Good luck.

 

[coloradodave]

Yeh, good luck with that! Try a NAPA store. Like cranky said, they can cross reference your old bearings and races. That way there's no mistake...

 

[69Bee]

Like others have said, it doesn't matter what the so called book says, get the same parts as the old ones. Don't forget the seals too. The number will be on the rubber part usually.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

If you wiped the drivers side and can't get the number off the bearing,pull the other side to obtain the brearing number.Now let your fingers do the walkin':blob1:

 

[MoparMikey]

The two types of outer bearings are A2 or A16. Each used a different caliper type, pin type vs slider type and slightly different rotors.

 

[Bruzilla]

Do you know the numbers for the inner set?

 

[69Bee]

Do you have a set of calipers? If so, measure the OD and thickness of the outer race, then the ID and thickess of the inner race. Post them here, and I will do the best to get you some Timkin numbers. If you can also measure the seal bore in the rotor, and the dia of the seal surface on the spindle, I will get a seal number too.

 

[MoparMikey]

Both show as A17 for inners

 

[67 coronet]

the a16 out and a18 inner fit the road runners.often confused in catalogs with the a2 out and a17 for the satallite.both listings will come up for road runner in most catalogs.

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

A2 & A17 should be the correct bearings for all disc brake B-bodies in those years by my experience. The additional A16 & A18 listings in some of the aftermarket catalogs for ‘74 Road Runner I believe is erroneous and sounds like that’s what you were sold. The corresponding grease seals for the A2/A17 application is National #5121.

 

[Bruzilla]

There was a problem with the grease seal also. The one I was sold was like a race with a rubber seal on the end. The one that was on the car was just a rubber seal.

- - - Updated - - -

Okay, I checked O-Reilly's site for a Satellite and got the A2 and A17 bearing set listings, so it looks like at some point over the years someone put a set of Satellite rotors on the car. And that 5121 seal looks like what was on the rotor.

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

There aren’t any “Satellite” specific rotors in ‘74, from ’73 up through the late seventies b-body front bearing & spindle sizes remained the same. Rotor diameter increased to 11 ¾” in ’76 or so. Go back to the O’reilly site and plug in any other year, ’73 up, b-body models, including Road Runner, there is only the A2/A17 listed. Only ’74 Road runner app. lists the additional A16/A18 bearings with the A2/A17. Again erroneously.

 

[idrivemopar]

I went through the same problem when buying new wheel bearings for my 73 Roadrunner, and yes, they are listed incorrectly most places. So, I had the guy look up a 73 charger, and a2/A17 came up, since the spindles i got to replace my old ones were off a charger and the same for the roadrunner. By the way, i got my bearings from AutoZone, listed on their computer as set 2 and set 17 from Timken, and worked out perfectly!

 

[YY1]

There was a LBJ change mid 73 to pressed in, and there is debate about the pin to slider caliper change occuring around the same time. Don't know if that's got any bearing (ha) or not.

Interestingly, the bearings from my drum brake 66, interchange with my donor 5th Ave disk spindles/rotors, and the 5th Ave (87) is a 10.x rotor and works with 14" wheels.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Knock the races out and see if there are any numbers on them.

 

[snakeoil24]

I always go to Napa. Autozone, Advanced and Pep Boys staff know nothing! When you go to a Napa Store they train their help properly and you feel like your getting your monies worth. what ever happened to the good old fashioned independently owned auto part stores that cut rotors, pressed bearings and took good care of customers and and had guys working their for many years. All the chains are terrible, with kids working for minimum wage who don't know anything about what they sell.

 

[Bruzilla]

Went to O'Reilly's yesterday and got two A2s and A17s so I would be ready to get them on first thing New Years Day. I opened the boxes to install the driver's side and discovered a problem. Three of the bearings were sealed in plastic but one wasn't... not a good sign. I got the outer race in, but when I went to put the inner race in, the race I had (that had been the one that wasn't sealed in plastic) was just a smidge too small. It dropped in without any pounding needed, so I suspect it wasn't an A17. I took it back to O'Reilly this morning and got a replacement, so lesson learned... check the boxes before you leave the store and bring the old parts to compare.

I also went to replace the spindle nuts, caps, and pins, and found O'Reillys didn't have any, nor did Advance, and both places told me I would have to wait until Friday to get them. Last stop was Autozone, and they had one set and promised to get me a second my 4:00 today. They called at 3:30 and said they were in, so I had the car done by 5:00. Not a bad way to spend New Years Day. By the way... the install kit (thrust washer, spindle nut, cover, and pin) at O'Reillys was $6.99 and the same kit was $3.99 at Autozone.

Thanks to everyone for the information!

 

[artiec1]

Try Rock Auto online. Tons of good parts. Autozone a NO NO! Good Luck