ball bearing to roller bearing conversion

I have a 54 Chevy drum brakes. I want to know if anyone knows part #'s for a ball to Roller conversion?

Thanks Tyler

 

Do you have the ball bearing part numbers? I can cross-reference them in the Timken database...

 

Probably not exactly what you're looking for, but ECI provides the upgrade as a part of their disc brake conversion kits. It required an adaptor on the spindle and swapping the races out of the rotor. The kit provides both.

 

I can't read some of the part # but this is what I got.
Inner Bearing 909702
Inner Race 989552
Outer Race 909501
Can't read the number on the outer bearing though.

 

i heard 70s full size chevy

 

the 55-57 ball bearing hubs can be replaced with the early-mid 60s full size car roller hubs.

I don't think you'll find a "normal" roller bearing to replace the B52 inner bearing on the old car hubs. At least I couldn't find any when I was looking for them for my trucks. But on the bright side the ball bearings work fine, I have several original New Departure bearings in my 50s trucks, so they've been going strong for 50 yrs. I know it's nice to upgrade, but lately I'm getting the hamb mentality of only upgrading stuff that really needs it. wheel bearings are not in that category.

 

Chevy Duty ( www.chevyduty.com ) lists replacement roller bearings for 55 - 59 trucks, both the inner and outer. However, my catalog is a few years old, so they may not sell them anymore. More importantly, I'm not sure if 54 and older passenger cars used the same front wheel bearings as 55 - 59 1/2 ton pickups. If they did use the same bearings, then these should work. I've bought a set of these bearings for my 55 1/2 ton. They work with the original front hubs and drums, so I didn't have to replace anything else but the bearings.

 

Still always a good idea to change them out just because............sure does suck when they go out on ya!! Daddy's get kinda upset when they have to drive clear from Fresno Ca to Las Vegas to pick you and your gosh darn Chevy

xxx
Brandy

If you take that COMPLETE bearing (inner and outters) to your local auto parts store (no NOT kragens) or a bearing place like Kanter, they can cross ref it for you and find the numbers if a few of them are missing.

 

1961 chevy car was the first year for needle bearings, the hubs/bearings are the same from 1961-1968.

 

I believe Brothers truck has a kit for this change over. Ed ke6bnl
don't have the catalog here at work E d

 

Yeah, the Rockstars wanna know about 49-54s!?!?!?!?!?!?

Anyone? Beuler?

BTTT

 

those cars use the B52 and B01 bearing, just like the truck....

 

not only is it nice, but those roller ball bearings can be damn expensive

 

If there is a decent bearing supply place around, you can usually take it to them to get a cross-reference. Just be sure to give them a call to make sure they carry automotive style bearings before you drove to the next town and find out thy only have industrial bearings.

I took the wheel bearings from Slide Jr's pedal car to a bearing place here in Dallas, and matched them up with some sealed berings rated for up to 14,000 RPMs! If you hit them at a time when they're not swamped, they'll usually work with you. If you have the spindles and/or hubs off the car anyways, bring them with you as well.

 

Damn 14,000 RPM on a pedal car, that's one fast toddler.

 

He's only had it up to just shy of 9 grand, but that was all they had in stock!

 

UPDATE.... I have gone to ever web site and all the places in town that deal with bearings and they all say that there is no roller bearing replacement to that size ball bearing. Guy at the last place said he has a 50 chevy and was pretty bummed when he researched it 6 months ago.

So everyone don't waste your time looking.

 

Here's another one...I tried to adapt the '61 hubs to the original spindles, but no bearing was available for the inner due to the odd size of the spindle...I guess on could have the spindle machined down to a standard size...

Brian

 

49 to 54 Chevy car and 53 to 62 Corvette use the same front end. I looked all over for a conversion--but no luck. I carry an extra set of bearings just like I did in my 55 chevy when I was a kid. When I made a left turn and heard that "crack-pop" sound I would just pull over and put in a fresh one, usually the left outer.

overspray

 

I dont mean to steal your thread ,but since everyone is on the subject of bearings, is there any advantage to switching to the '61 -'64 rearend in my '60 Chevy car ?I have already done the front bearing / hub thing.I have heard that the axle bearings in the '60 and under GM's are expensive and the seal and bearing are one assembly.Is this true with '61 - '64 also?

 

1958 to 1964 Chev and 1958 to 1962 Corvette rear wheel bearings are the same RW-607NR bearing.....I have 20 or more new ones available....

 

Like Rottenikken said, the rear axels are the same from 59 - 64. However you can change the bearings to big Ford 9 inch bearings, but this requires custom made axel shafts and new axel housing ends. Moser makes new axel ends for 12 bolt Chevys, to replace the Chevy bearings and c - clips, with Ford bearings and axel retainers. The 12 bolt axels have the same bolt pattern for the backing plates as 55 -64 Chevy axels. So. you could use the Moser ends and Ford bearings and still use the 60 Chevy backing plates and drum brakes. But you would have to get custom axel shafts made. I did this with a 60 Pontiac axel to adapt 59 Chevy drums to the Pontiac ( could't find good Pontiac brake drums or backing plates). The Moser axel shafts were about $400 a pair. The cost of the whole job including axel ends, narrowing the Pontiac axel all machine work was about $750. However the stock 59 Chevy bearings were about $150 a side. Haven't done this on a Chevy axel yet, but it should work.

 

I gotta bring this thread back to life for a question i have....
can you use 60s impala hubs and bearings on a 55 chevy half ton second series in order to convert to 5 lug? Are the tri-five truck spindles the same as tri-five car spindles?
Im just wondering because I know my local junkyard has loads of impala hubs and they would be cheap, but Im not sure if theres any 51-54 chevys with hubs up there, and the guy is stingy so im sure they would be more expensive than the common impala/biscayne hubs. Im goin up there saturday to get a camaro rear end and 5 lug front hubs if I can find a compatable car to take em from. Plus I would get roller bearings with impala hubs. even if I had to change the brake backing plate I would do that too.
thanks

 

I have a 64 impala in my driveway but my truck is a 3/4 ton. My replacement half ton front axle which i bought in order to convert to 5 lug is at my dads house since he picked it up and hasnt brought it over yet. Otherwise I would just take a hub off my car and see if it fits. Its just been bugging me and i want to know. lol

 

I guess my dad is bringing me that axle on saturday and Ill check it out, any advice or tips would be awesome though

 

I'm not sure on that one as the front to back length of the hubs might be quite a bit different.

Brothers and several other vendors sell the tapered bearing kits/sets to convert the truck hubs. http://www.brotherstrucks.com/prodinfo.asp?number=TRB4759 is one example.

On your 63 hubs the outer bearing has these specs:

National - Wheel Bearing And Race Set
Part Number: A2
Line: BCA

1 year limited warranty
UPC: 724956000876
Front Outer

Detailed Description


Cone Part Number: LM11949
Cone Bore: 0.75 in. (19.05mm)
Cone Length: 0.655 in. (16.637mm)
Cone Radius: 0.046 in. (1.168mm)

Cup Part Number: LM11910
Cup Outside Diameter: 1.781 in. (45.237mm)
Cup Length: 0.475 in. (12.065mm)
Cup Radius: 0.046 in. (1.168mm)


The inner bearing has these specs:


National - Wheel Bearing And Race Set
Part Number: A6
Line: BCA

1 year limited warranty
UPC: 724956001200
Front Inner

Detailed Description


Cone Part Number: LM67048
Cone Bore: 1.25 in. (31.75mm)
Cone Length: 0.66 in. (16.764mm)
Cone Radius: 0 in. (0mm)

Cup Part Number: LM67010
Cup Outside Diameter: 2.328 in. (59.131mm)
Cup Length: 0.465 in. (11.811mm)
Cup Radius: 0.046 in. (1.168mm)

What you are looking at there is if the inside bore of the cones matches the inside bore of the bearings that are in the 55 hubs. That might be circumnavigated with a bearing change but the front to back distance on the hubs and the location of the drum on the hub are going to be more critical.
I don't think it's going to work as I've been playing with Chevy Pickups since 1973 and have never heard mention of anyone doing that swap.

 

53-62 vette roller (not ball) bearings are no longer available from vette suppliers---i got my last set on ebay ,high dollar but worth it...

 

hmmm, interesting, Thanks for the info, I think maybe ill just take the easy route and find some 51-54 car hubs and slide em on, we will see

 

Check this link and see if it helps on your bearing conversion. Jeff

https://www.fillingstation.com/articles/tapered.htm

 

FiveFive, I think 3/4 ton axles are the same as 1/2 ton, just the hubs are different.