Rear axle bearing vendor choices

[MoPar~Man]

I note that rockauto sells "USA Standard Gear" USA10047 and USA10046 bearing kits for about $175 (for both sides).

I wouldn't be considering the 10046 kit because it's a green (ball) bearing.

Dr. Diff sells a kit that includes steel inner gasket, a choice of Timkin or Precision bearings, for $128.

The DrDiff package seems to be the no-brainer choice here - unless I'm missing something?

How likely would I need to replace the retainer plates? Again we have rock's US Standard Gear retainers coming in at $125 while DrDiff's custom machined (thicker) plates are $72.

For any of these kits, there is no difference between the 489/741/742 case? I have the 741 case.

 

[Big_John]

note that rockauto sells "USA Standard Gear" USA10047 and USA10046 bearing kits for about $175 (for both sides).

I wouldn't be considering the 10046 kit because it's a green (ball) bearing.

Dr. Diff sells a kit that includes steel inner gasket, a choice of Timkin or Precision bearings, for $128.

The DrDiff package seems to be the no-brainer choice here - unless I'm missing something?

In theory, the Timkin bearings would be the better choice. USA Standard is a parts supplier and their bearings are probably made for them and packaged in USA Standard box. They could be just fine, but I would go with the Timkin bearings. Precision Bearing is probably OK, but I think the safer bet, and the one I've always chosen is Timkin.

How likely would I need to replace the retainer plates? Again we have rock's US Standard Gear retainers coming in at $125 while DrDiff's custom machined (thicker) plates are $72.

No reason that I know of unless the retainers are damaged. The only time I've seen them damaged is from some heavy handed installation.

For any of these kits, there is no difference between the 489/741/742 case? I have the 741 case.

No difference on the axles bearings or their seals.

 

[413]

Plates can be saved if the guy had the proper tools to grab the bearing ony and would not destroy the plates.

Look at your plates and adjuster make sure they are flat and in good shape right now. Not rusted up.

 

[Fireflite56]

Timken is a good brand, with many parts still made in the USA. I did a rear end rebuild on my '59 DeSoto last year and most of the original parts I removed were Timken. I looked up all of the factory part numbers in the parts book and then used a website to cross those to the Timken numbers to ensure I was getting the correct parts.

 

[volksworld]

I looked up my Dr Diff receipt and it only showed the carrier bearings and the clutch kit, so I guess I sourced the Timkin ones I used someplace else...but my notes say they were USA made...maybe they were on a separate receipt, cause thought I got it all from him...the set7 bearing comes with the press on retainer ring and I'd be most concerned with the quality of that piece cause it helps keep the bearing on the shaft... so even though some other brand of bearing might be ok, that ring might not be

 

[MoPar~Man]

Yea I agree with the Timken choice, it's hard to know these days where exactly they're made compared to years past. Regarding the axle do I have to worry about anything falling out on the inside or replacing something like a "button" or is that a thing only with a limited-slip diff (which mine is not) ?

 

[Fireflite56]

Timken brand is available on RockAuto FYI.

 

[Big_John]

Regarding the axle do I have to worry about anything falling out on the inside or replacing something like a "button" or is that a thing only with a limited-slip diff (which mine is not) ?

You shouldn't have a problem. The axles butt against the shaft (called a thrust block) with the side gears on it and that's not going any place.

 

[3175375]

@mobileparts - Craig, chime in with your sage advice, please.

 

[MoPar~Man]

Timken brand is available on RockAuto FYI.

Maybe I'm not seeing it, but rock doesn't show a variety of rear axle bearing choices like they do for the front wheels.

 

[Fireflite56]

Maybe I'm not seeing it, but rock doesn't show a variety of rear axle bearing choices like they do for the front wheels.

For some of the ones for my '59, I had to search the Timken p/n directly as it did not show up under my car on its own, but they had it.

 

[RemCharger]

Maybe I'm not seeing it, but rock doesn't show a variety of rear axle bearing choices like they do for the front wheels.

Just looked, they're there.

 

[Mr onetwo]

from the Rockauto site...don't know if it means you actually get Timken or not

 

[Big_John]

Maybe I'm not seeing it, but rock doesn't show a variety of rear axle bearing choices like they do for the front wheels.

The problem with Rock Auto and many others is the listings aren't as complete as they should be. I looked up '67 Monaco (IIRC) and here's a screen shot.

No Timkin bearing listed. Yet we know that there's a Timkin bearing set that fits and RA does carry it. I did a little more searching and I even found that they don't even list a rear axle bearing for a '67 300! Yet they list them for a '67 New Yorker, which we know has the same rear and pretty much the same car.

RA's listings used to be the better source and I would pull part numbers and then go searching for the better deal with shipping with Amazon often winning out. The local independent NAPA store has the RA website open all the time because the NAPA parts website has some serious holes in it and they often look up and cross numbers.

The moral of the story is you have to be prepared to do some research and not believe everything you see.

 

[MoPar~Man]

Just looked, they're there.

How did you search? In the part-number search yea I can plug in "set7" and see the timken show up, but how do you search for bearings based on size or based on axle (8.75) ?

What about this part (axle shaft retainer / clip) MOTIVE GEAR 3833322:

Where does it go? No kits as far as I can tell contain it.

 

[Big_John]

How did you search? In the part-number search yea I can plug in "set7" and see the timken show up, but how do you search for bearings based on size or based on axle (8.75) ?

Type in the Chrysler part number. In this case 2525415 and it will cross to the SET7.

Take it one more step and hit the "Info" button and it will open up to another page and you'll see that Chrysler part number. (Yea, I know it says "driveshaft". Chrysler calls axles driveshafts)

All that said, you still can look at the "tribal knowledge" accumulated in this forum to double check.

 

[Big_John]

What's funny is if you click on the SET7 number in the RA listing, it comes up with "67 Monaco". Why this doesn't cross back to the application listing doesn't make any sense.

 

[MoPar~Man]

Yes I tried looking through several different C-body cars and years and they just showed the US Standard Gear offerings. But it seems when you look up the bearings by part number, these are the total offerings by rock:

BCA NBA7 Bearing & Race Set $34
NATIONAL A7 Bearing & Race Set $45
SKF BR7 $47
TIMKEN SET7 $61

They are all listed under catagory "Wheel Bearing".

BCA is aka NTN which is theoretically Japanese made.

I'm showing prices in CAD. The BCA bearings are for some reason way cheaper than Timken.

"BCA bearings by NTN are precision engineered with high-quality materials to deliver optimal performance and durability for both domestic and import applications."

When you do web searches for "timken vs NTN" (or Timken vs anything) a lot of results turn up at BITOG, and a lot of people are sour on timken. The BCA bearings, if actually made in Japan, would seem to be a safe choice over Timken. The price is certainly right.

I would love it if they made this type of bearing and it fit in the axle:

 

[SIPLOWGUY]

I miss the days of true parts men with paper catalogs lol

 

[volksworld]

that Motive Gear C clip is not used in an 8 3/4 rear...in an 8 3/4 the bearing is pressed onto the axle shaft...those clips are used in the rears where you pull the rear end cover ,remove a pin and the clip goes into a groove cut around the end of the axle to hold the axle into the side gear of the diff...lot of fords and chevys use that style of axle retention and I believe an 8 1/4 Mopar does too...idk about Danas...