Drum Brake Spridget Front Whl. Brgs

[VWNate1]

I need to get a set and i'm pondering converting to tapered roller bearing typ , what say the group ? .

FWIW , I usually prefer ball bearings as they're less rolling resistance and tend to carry heavier loads too but maybe I should change up and be more ' modern' ?

If I go ball bearings , I'll prolly use 30205 Inner and 30303 outers , Bower BCA or summat like that .

A # 13650 seal , can't find those cool double lipped CR seals anymore dammit


Comments , suggestions & death threats are all welcomed no matter how arcane

[Steve Simmons]

I don't know much about Midgets, but a number of T-Series owners have changed to tapered roller bearings with good results. Still many more on ball bearings than rollers though, so I guess that doesn't help much. I weighed the pros and cons and decided to stay with balls on my TC and MGA. They last practically forever so I didn't see a significant enough advantage to spend the time and money on converting.

[Jimmy]

Just convert to bushings, Nate...far fewer moving parts.
Then use the money saved for wax.

[VWNate1]

?? " bushings ??

[Jimmy]

Or, as they say in England, "bushes".
But that could be misunderstood here.

[VWNate1]

I *think* I understand , when you say ' bushing ' about a Spridget , I automatically think of the threaded trunnions....

[malcolmr18zoy]

I've never had problems with taper roller bearings, as long as their adjusted properly. This requires some mechanical know how. Ball bearings are easy for the un-informed. Just torque them up. Bushes, well they are a different thing altogether, reaming comes to mind.
Malcolm

[Jimmy]

Bushes, well they are a different thing altogether, reaming comes to mind.
Malcolm

I knew I shouldn't have gone there.

[VWNate1]

Thanx all ;

As it turns , I just ordered a set of EOM typ ball bearings ans seals from Doug's British , should be in soon I hope .

[Steve Simmons]

Are we all talking about the same thing? Never heard of wheel bearing being referred to as bushings.

[Jimmy]

No, Steve, we're not.
Reread it with an open mind.
Then read it once again with a slightly dirty mind.

[VWNate1]

Sn , Sn, Sn,

[VWNate1]

O-Kay then ! .

It turns out that ALL Spridgets (and thereby Metropolitasn Nash's) use the SAME front wheel bearings and seals .

Moss Motors sells nifty service kits including both bearings , the grease seal , a tiny packet of bearing grease and even the 5/32X2" cotter pin ! pretty nice . less than 1/2 the price the bearing house wanted for the outer bearings alone and they wanted me to wait a week or three .

This is for original made in Jolley Olde Englande ball typ bearings .

I hope this helps , all I needs do now is check the lug stud threads on my spare hub and I can begin packing & assembling them .

[Jimmy]

So, the bearing house would've reamed you.

[VWNate1]

Kinda got a one track mind there Jimmy

Yes , they would have had I let them

$80.00 for the outer bearing alone ?! WTF ? .

[Jimmy]

Kinda got a one track mind there Jimmy

On the contrary, Nate.
Steve, for example, has a one track mind.
Mine, however, is derailed.

[Steve Simmons]

Hey, speak for yourself!

[Jimmy]

I'm not the one that was stuck on wheel bearings.

[VWNate1]

That'd be me

I got the driver's side packed and installed , discovered paper thin lining on one shoe and the lower blind cylinder appears to be weeping a tiny bit , hunted around until I found _one_ good (great actually) used shoe and installed it after cleaning the backing plate , adjusters etc. , I'll send my spare set of front shoes to my reliner Monday (he was out of stock to-day)
and hopefully I'll get the other side bearings done before Sunday Next when I need to drive it far away .

I also found pretty much everything I'll need to convert the front drums brakes to disc , I need to get busy on that as I'd like them done by my April 2010 drive to Pheonix . I need to get some custom bushings made for the spindles and rebuild the Midget calipers etc....

Have a good weekend guys ! I'm @ son's house now on his 'puter .