1953 Pontiac Wheel bearings

I'm looking for some input on new wheel bearings for my 53 Pontiac. Ive been to bearings places, and they tell me to go to the auto parts store. Autozone, Kanter, and pontiac restoration co have them, but they're all $100 and up each(for the inner). Does anyone have any other ideas? Maybe a part number for roller bearings that may be cheaper or a spacer that would allow for a more common wheel bearing.

I was also curious if there is a backing plate and drum that would fit over these spindles. Wheel clyinders are $50 each, and drums are $130 each.

Thanks for any help. I could have mustang two'd this thing for what im gonna have into the front brakes.

-Chris

 

I had a wheel bearing post for Chevy a while ago, here:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=248021&highlight=chevy+roller+bearing+wheel

If the measurements aren't the same for a Pontiac, at least the idea is the same. There was no machining of the spindles or hubs with this job. The sleeves and adapters make up the fits.

And try Rock Auto for the brake parts. I bought some USA made wheel cylinders last year from them.

Frank

 

You have a few options here either use the Scarebird disc kit along with the wheel bearing conversion or redo the drum brakes and change to tapered bearings only..
I think for the earlier model Scarebird kits the drum hub is reused.

Here's some good info that should help. In my Napa catalog i've found that 40-54 Pontiac use a B52 inner and B67 outer bearings. I've also found that 38-59 Chevy 1/2 ton trucks use the same bearing set up and even the same inner seal #18772.

Go to Cl***is performance products, they sell a roller bearing conversion kit for $95 , they list theirs for 47-59 Chevy trucks. I would think that would be for all 4 bearings.

 

I'll second the Rock Auto, particularly if you have the part numbers, although their online catalog is pretty good and simple to use. Never would have thought of them for vintage but I played around one day and discovered they do have some parts for Hudsons - a Pontiac isn't nearly as much of a stretch as that -

 

measure OD of spindle and ID of hub, A standard tapered roller bearing will cross over.

 

Thanks for all the info this gives me much more to work with. Rockauto is a cool site, If you click the part numer if gives other cars that use the same part. I didn't know that a 77 wagonner used the same wheel clyinder as a 53 pontiac.

Here is the measurements of the bearing (according to rockauto). Will a tappered bearing pop right in? Does anyone have a timekin catalog to cross the below measurements?

BCA/NATIONAL Part # B52 {Ball Bearing Bore=1.281" Outer Diameter=2.963" Width=1.15" Inner Race Radius=0.14"}
Front Wheel; Inner

Thanks everyone for all help!

-Chris

 

Here is a description of the pickup conversion kit.

http://www.dreamershotrods.com/cpp-4759rbk-u.aspx

 

If you cross over using spindle OD and hub ID, you'll have to knock the existing race out of the hub first and install new race.

 

FYI- I got this kit and am very happy with it.

-Chris

 

Wow, that's great, If that was availible when I did mine it woulda saved me a lot of time and thinking.

This is a must do for the ball bearing fronts.

Thank you Chris!

 

They should change their listing to include Pontiacs also. Glad it worked out ok, i'll be getting a kit for my 41 as well.

 

Yeah, the B52 bearings are up to $100 Each. With this kit you get all your front bearings and wheel seals for for 95. Not to mention I think the wheel seals for the original set up are close to $20 each.

-Chris

 

My 57 Chevy has discs up front, early 70s Chevelle disc/hub bolt right on.
For drum conversion I think you just use stock 65 Chevy hub ***emblies which is the first year for tapered roller bearings instead of those gawdawful expensive ball bearings GM was in love with for 60 years.
Maybe Pontiac has a mating later hub drum??

 

This would be good to know. I don't think anyone even makes drums for these cars anymore. I called kanter and PRP and neither have drums. What are you guys using for drums?

-Chris

 

My drums are going on the s**** pile if they need replaced , i'm not spending $ 500 for 2 new drums either plus the wheel cylinders . I'm end up getting the Scarebird bracket kit, it reuses the drum hub, the od is machined off a little to clear the inside of the rotor. I don't think my 16" wheels will fit over the caliper though. And since you've converted over to tapered bearings it will only be better.

Outside of the trucks that use the same bearing setup I don't think anything else will work. The brake kits for the trucks have a bearing adapter that goes on the spindle. But with a differant tie rod set up than the cars It may not work. These spindles that Pontiac and the trucks use use are longer than the newer chevy car spindles. There are a few other cars that use this set up for anyone else in a bearing swap, i'll hunt down my list and post it.

 

Does this Kit work with the factory master?

 

The factory master can be used, an upgrade to a dual reservoir would be better. On my 55 I took the defrost unit off the firewall and put in a hanging pedel ***embly from a 55 chevy, the 41 i'll figure something out for a dual master and leave it in the original position on the framerail, but the stock single will work.

If you do go to manual disc brakes get the cheapest softest pads you can find, any semi-mettalic pads with manual disc will be much harder to stop.

 

Fyi, I could only find 2 other additional vehicles listed that used this bearing combination for the conversion

37-40 Buick - there was no seal listed in my catalog, so not available thru Napa

41-52 Olds - but had a differant seal 20118