Wheel bearing suggestion

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Westy78
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Wheel bearing suggestion

Post by Westy78 » Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:41 pm

Any preferred brand of wheel bearings? I need to start getting parts together for a day with Colin.

BD has Febi kits...

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=211405645K

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=211501287K
Chorizo, it's what's for breakfast.

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Amskeptic
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Re: Wheel bearing suggestion

Post by Amskeptic » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:01 pm

Westy78 wrote:Any preferred brand of wheel bearings? I need to start getting parts together for a day with Colin.

BD has Febi kits...

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=211405645K

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=211501287K
Ask vwlover77, I think decent Timken bearings are available from AutoZone, FAG bearings are good too. I had a chinese knock-off in a no-name box that gave me 6,000 miles before the hardened surface was worn right through. Meanwhile, my original left rear wheel bearings are fine at 575,000 miles.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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vwlover77
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Post by vwlover77 » Fri Feb 06, 2009 7:10 pm

At least for the tapered roller bearings, please purchase Timken (available at Autozone) and support my employer! They will likely be made either in Colmar, France or Bucyrus, Ohio.

I can't comment on the rear radial ball and cylindrical roller bearings as Timken does not manufacture those. PEX as listed in the BD item is Chinese and I would stay away from those. I would try to get SKF or FAG.
Don

---------------------------
78 Westy
71 Super Beetle Convertible Autostick

"When we let our compassion go, we let go of whatever claim we have to the divine." - Bruce Springsteen

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Westy78
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Post by Westy78 » Fri Feb 06, 2009 9:46 pm

OK, I can get all SKF bearings except for the rear outers from BD. $80 with seals including shipping. Doesn't seem too bad. The only rear outer bearings they have are Kmm. Never heard of them. Any comments?

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=211501283D

Scott has SKF outer rear bearings but holy crap the price...$60 a piece

http://www.germansupply.com/xcart/custo ... 354&page=1

Wolfsburg is a little better on price for SKF, $48 a piece

http://wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsLi ... 211501283D


What do you guys think?
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Amskeptic
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Post by Amskeptic » Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:16 pm

Westy78 wrote:OK, I can get all SKF bearings except for the rear outers from BD. $80 with seals including shipping. Doesn't seem too bad. The only rear outer bearings they have are Kmm. Never heard of them. Any comments?

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=211501283D

Scott has SKF outer rear bearings but holy crap the price...$60 a piece

http://www.germansupply.com/xcart/custo ... 354&page=1

Wolfsburg is a little better on price for SKF, $48 a piece

http://wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsLi ... 211501283D


What do you guys think?
Get the best quality and only price shop from there. Of all the one-ton vehicles I know, these deserve the very best quality, period.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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Westy78
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Post by Westy78 » Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:48 pm

So the SKF get the thumbs up though? I didn't see anyone online carrying FAG's. I'll see what the local parts place carries also.
Chorizo, it's what's for breakfast.

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vwlover77
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Post by vwlover77 » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:18 pm

I was talking to one of our bearing experts at work about the rear setup on the Bus with the combination ball bearing and straight roller bearing. He said that setup is an excellent design - very robust.

Are you sure you even need to replace the rear bearings? Maybe just regrease and install new seals?

In any case, SKF should be good.
Don

---------------------------
78 Westy
71 Super Beetle Convertible Autostick

"When we let our compassion go, we let go of whatever claim we have to the divine." - Bruce Springsteen

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Amskeptic
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Post by Amskeptic » Sat Feb 07, 2009 9:59 pm

vwlover77 wrote:I was talking to one of our bearing experts at work about the rear setup on the Bus with the combination ball bearing and straight roller bearing. He said that setup is an excellent design - very robust.

Are you sure you even need to replace the rear bearings? Maybe just regrease and install new seals?

In any case, SKF should be good.
Do not replace them unless your rear wheels give a good clunkity clunk when you pry them up with a crow bar after lifting the wheel 1" above the floor with a jack, or if they rumble noticeably when you spin the rear wheel in 3rd gear briefly with the engine, again with the wheel jacked up (otherwise you'll be through the back wall of the garage). Just get the wheel up to speed, shut off the engine and let it coast down while you listen.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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grandfatherjim
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72 front wheel bearing numbers??

Post by grandfatherjim » Tue Jul 06, 2010 7:45 pm

Can anyone supply the bearing numbers for the front inners and outers? I want to pick some up from a local bearing shop in the next couple of days. (Leaving on trip, no time to have them shipped from one of the usual suspects....)
Thanks,
Jim

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germansupplyscott
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Post by germansupplyscott » Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:10 am

Westy78 wrote:Scott has SKF outer rear bearings but holy crap the price...$60 a piece

http://www.germansupply.com/xcart/custo ... 354&page=1
that bearing is for '64-'70. yes it's expensive but it's OE quality german and how many times do you replace these? once every 15 years or more.

for a '78 this is the kit:

http://www.germansupply.com/xcart/custo ... ctid=16498

the bearings are Febi for the outer, i believe the bearing is actually made by INA in a Febi box. the inner is Koyo. the seals are Goetze. our kit includes the 2 large lock rings and cotter pin for the big nut.
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