Technical Ford 9 inch bearing assistance

had to pull the rear axle on my 9 inch to investigate an issue. It appeared that there was slop in the outer bearing since you could rock the car and hear a slight clunking sound from that axle. Jack the tire up and you can duplicate the noise by rocking the tire. So, I pulled the axle and found a bearing
SE88508X that has the oring. Figured I would change it since I had it out as it does seem to have a bit of slop in it. This rear came with the project and I have no idea what it is out of at the moment. It does have the early big bearing not the Torino large bearing. The axle is a 28 spline unit.
Now the issue. I cannot find that bearing nor can I locate an oring bearing in my area. Again I am relying on the parts store guys and they are drawing blanks since I do not know the "application". There are a host of oring style bearings on line, all for the 9 inch but I am leary of them fitting the application correctly. In addition Currie indicates a Timken set 20 is what they apparently use.
I ***ume many of you have more experience with the 9 inch than I do. Is there a quick solution to this bearing choice?

 

Goggle “Ford 9” axel bearing with o ring” and see what pop’s up.

 

two means to narrow down the original application- what is the WMS to WMS width? Is there a tag on one of the carrier bolts?

 

Width as best as I can tell since it is in the car would be 58 3/4. I had thought that it was from a 66-77 Bronco as I had done some research on it many years ago when it was out of the car. Has a 290 gear. I have not removed the bearing from the axle yet, but it appears I am going to in order to mic the axle diameter for the bearing. Everything I find is doesn't seem to match up to the spec of the existing bearing except the OD which is 3.150. However, it appears Ford may have used the Timken A20 set. That has the bearing, retainer and a seal that appears to get installed first and is crushed by the retainer plate if I understand what Currie's video implies. I may try that since the dimensions seem very close to the existing bearing.

 

The first A20 set Timken sold to Ford was in 1973 for the E-200, the following years it was the rear wheel bearing set for many Fords from 1974 to up until 1988.

 

the bearing the comes in the A20 kit is U399A-90012

 

The Bronco rear is in that range at 58", but the pinion is off center, the lug bolt circle is 5.5", and usually had a 3,50 ratio. 67-70 Mustang and Cougar 59 1/2", centered pinion, 4.5" bolt circle, and several ratios.
What is the brake drum diameter and shoe width?

 

https://dutchmanaxles.com/wheel-bearing-identifier
Here's a pretty good axle type breakdown

 

Bolt pattern is 5/5, pinion is off center, 11 inch brakes
I ordered an A20 for tomorrow. We will see how that measures up.

 

Really? 5" bolt circle is weird. Wasn't that only on some late Mercs? Do you know how to measure a bolt circle?

 

More than helpful at John’s Industries.I’ve ordered bearings directly from them.

 

No it is a 5 1/2.....just typing to fast, you know how that goes at times.

 

Thanks for that link. Put that one in my favorites.

 

What you want to ask for is a rear wheel bearing for a 69 Bronco with a 3300 lb rear axle.
Some examples on this page https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...,1105355,brake+&+wheel+hub,wheel+bearing,1672

 

Have noit sat and read it all, but will just throw this in for digestion.
With the metric world taking over I've been told by others trying to rebuild items including diffs that new bearings from countries in Asia particularly they are not reproducing in imperial sizes but playing with metric sizes to come close.
Sometimes this practice is not quite good enough.
So be on your guard with this possibility.
I know guys doing early Jag diff rebuilds have been caught...

 

What you want to ask for is a rear wheel bearing for a 69 Bronco with a 3300 lb rear axle.
Some examples on this page https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...,1105355,brake+&+wheel+hub,wheel+bearing,1672

 

The SET20 bearings go on a 1.563" dia axle, the standard big ball bearing goes on a 1.531" axle. Check to make sure someone didn't upgrade a ball bearing axle to the SET20 bearings. That might be where the slop is coming from. The ball bearing axle also doesn't have a polished area for the outer seal to ride on.

 

Try Currie I think they could help you out.. Great Tech .

 

Are people unaware of Strange and Mark Williams anymore? All of the normal bearings are available from them. As a sidebar, you won't find success at a chain parts store unless you have a part number and it is in their system. Hot rods are built with parts from everywhere, not listed unless you know all of the info. There's a good chance that Mr48chev has listed the correct bearing for you.

 

Set 20 bearings will not work in “ big Torino” housings. Ask me how I know.

 

Part # 91080508
Sealed Axle Bearing with Lock Ring, 9 Inch Ford Big Housing
and o-ring
Speedway Motors

• Sealed axle bearing with lock ring for Ford 9 Inch big housings
• 3.150” O.D. & 1.528” I.D.
• $33.99

 

^^^^^^that Speedway piece looks like the one on the axle. And it is made in China, maybe most are but I would like to
find a solution that is manufactured in the USA.

By the measurements I took the rear is the early big bearing unit.

 

The bearing that I picked up yesterday, a Nat 88508, has an ID of 1.568. The existing bearing on the axle is a SE88508X. I need to pull the existing off the axle and mic it to be certain of what I have. Also, there is a seal in the axle tube but I am not certain that it is suppose to be there. I will look to see if there is a shoulder for it. I had replaced it a month ago and did not pay attention to that. So more investigation is needed. Back to you later.

 

Went out and to a pic of the axle end. There is a shoulder in the tube for the seal. That may narrow this down a bit more. I am going over to the garage and press off the old bearing to measure the axle so I will then know the other answer. here is a pic of the axle fwiw

 

The axle is the smaller ID so I have ordered a SKF 88128R. That should return it to specs since their is a seal in the tube. The bearing that we took off was a RW508ER which I am to understand is an aftermarket piece with the oring. It feels funky and has slop in it depending on where you turn the bearing. We will see if that was the problem. Back later with the results.

 

Ford made many different bearings for the Ford Nine inch and add to that after market people added a few “ upgrade” bearings. So as you well know there are many combinations. But two things have to be right…Id and od of the bearing have to match the same on the axle and housing!
With the seal in the axle, you really shouldn’t need an o’ring bearing. But it won’t hurt anything! I would also replace that seal.
You appear to be getting close! Good luck!






Bones

 

FYI The bearing used in a John’s Industries Torino type housing is #RW508ER, from the Green Bearing Co. part of Bearing Technologies. It has the “O” ring and uses an axle seal National# 51098.

 

Clearly the solution here is to get some truck hubs/spindles/etc and do a poor man's full float 9" conversion.

 

The 1974 and 75 bronco rear is it's own animal, they call it a medium duty and it takes a different bearing than the 66-73 and 76-77, the last one I just did was a 1974, pain in the *** sorting that out because I didn't realize there was a difference. The only two available gear options was 3.50 for V8's and 4.11's for the 6 cyl during all the years, I have 3 bronco rears in use and went through Moser for my axles and bearings.

 

Pressed the new bearing on and the axle is reinstalled. I have the car up on jack stands at the moment so it will be a while before I can get it on the ground to see if this fixed the issue. My sense is it has. This has been an education for certain but at least now I know much more about the venerable 9 inch rear end....