Timken vs.BCA wheel bearings

[shojuan]

Would any of you recommend I spend a premium for Timken rear wheel bearings vs BCA (Federal Mogul)?

I'm also replacing one front wheel bearing, and yes the BCA is over $12 cheaper than the Timken. But the front doesn't matter to me so much since I plan on getting Wilwoods within the next few years anyways (TCE SHO Stopper knuckles come with new bearings)

Once I pack the new rears with Redline CV-2 grease however, I don't plan on ever replacing them again.

 

[LaTechSHO]

both are top quality bearings.... you wouldn't be sacrificing quality going either way....


Louis

 

[rangerj]

Shojaun,

Like I said, Louis knows his pieces parts. Weren't you listening?

If you can get the BCA bearings cheaper, do it. They are top quality bearings.

You say you are going to replace only one side front bearing? I thought you knew better!

Replacing wheel bearings is like an algebraic equasion, that is what you do to one side, you do to the other! rangerj

 

[sdpatt]

Did the rear wheel bearings change between 1989 and 1991? I replaced the rear hub and bearing assemblies on my '91 with the Timken pre-assembled pieces. They were pressed in, sealed bearings with no packing required. After 250,000 miles, the bearings were still in good shape - little play and intact seals. For $50 per side, it was good insurance.

 

[LaTechSHO]

yes scott... the 89 is the oddball as far as rear hub is concerned..... it uses the traditional tapered bearing instead of the large sealed radial bearings we are used to on 90+ cars

specifically Part#'s:

Outer Bearing Set - A-12 BCA
Inner Bearing Set - A-6 BCA
Inner Grease Seal - 6815 National

just another oddity about the first year SHOs... truly the rarest of the lot


Louis

<small>[ June 22, 2003, 01:35 AM: Message edited by: LaTechSHO ]</small>

 

[shojuan]

rangerj:

You say you are going to replace only one side front bearing? I thought you knew better!

Replacing wheel bearings is like an algebraic equasion, that is what you do to one side, you do to the other! rangerj

Lol, yes I know better...sort of. About 18 months ago I had to replace the passenger front wheel bearing out of necessity (it failed, miserably. Took out the outer CV joint with it, lol sheared off the end stub) Money was a serious issue so I only replaced the bad bearing and the outer CV joint. Oh yeah, I did replace both inner and outer CV boots with new and repacked with redline CV-2 grease of course.

The driver's side front bearing isn't bad. But how much farther behind can it be? I'm replacing just about every other suspension piece on the car within the next two weeks so I figure why screw around, just replace the bearing that never got replaced. Yeah, still half assed because the other bearing is 18 months old, lol! Wilwoods will hopefully go on within the next 12-24 months so I'll have brand new front wheel bearings then anyways.

The rears aren't bad either but I figure it's time to put in the lifetime bearings back there. My truck's been a joy after I replaced the front wheel bearings last summer, packed with redline CV-2 grease of course. They weren't bad either, but I was replacing the upper/lower balljoints, outer CV joints (It's a 4X4 and both CV joints were toast) and inner/outer tie rod ends. I don't think I'll ever have to worry about the front wheel bearings in my truck ever again. I want the same peace of mind and warm fuzzy feeling for the rear of my SHO.

Louis, as always your valuable input is *very* much appreciated! Moog strut bumper/bellows (their the cheapest I can get believe it or not!) and BCA bearings it is then. Thanks for saving me the dough!!

 

[LaTechSHO]

Rick, someone at redline should be paying you for all the free advertisement and kind words you give them.... mind you i'm not disagreeing. Redline products have always either worked to their claim or beyond it in what limited applications i've seen. Water wetter is one of the few products that just plain works... sort of falls in that mystical Rain-X catagory for me.

We have started carrying Royal Purple products at O'Reilly, and in the coming months i think i'm going to give them a whirl.... I've always heard great things about royal purple, and they have Purple Ice which is supposed to do what water wetter does... should be interesting to compare.

At any rate you are very welcome for any "insight".... with all the suspension mods you have lined up your car should nearly handle like its on rails

Louis

 

[pjtoledo]

LaTechSHO:
yes scott... the 89 is the oddball as far as rear hub is concerned..... it uses the traditional tapered bearing instead of the large sealed radial bearings we are used to on 90+ cars

specifically Part#'s:

Outer Bearing Set - A-12 BCA
Inner Bearing Set - A-6 BCA
Inner Grease Seal - 6815 National

just another oddity about the first year SHOs... truly the rarest of the lot


Louis

If you take one of the newer "sealed" bearings apart you will find 2 tapered rolled bearings inside one outer race. There are also 2 inner races, and if they aren't squeeezed tightly together by the axle nut they seperate and the whole thing falls apart.

Perry Toledo,Ohio

 

[sdpatt]

pjtoledo:
If you take one of the newer "sealed" bearings apart you will find 2 tapered rolled bearings inside one outer race. There are also 2 inner races, and if they aren't squeeezed tightly together by the axle nut they seperate and the whole thing falls apart.

Perry Toledo,Ohio

Me an my big torque wrench will take your word for that.

 

[shojuan]

LaTechSHO:
with all the suspension mods you have lined up your car should nearly handle like its on rails

Louis

I could buy a whole 'nother car for what I'm spending on parts. But then I'd just have another car that needs a bunch of crap replaced, lol!

I'm really glad I can do all the suspension stuff all at once on this car. Maximum grin factor that way!!

 

[JoeHoe_SHO]

"Me an my big torque wrench will take your word for that."

My big torque wrench and I