Front Wheel Bearings - Disc's

[tyallis]

Folks,
I have had a drive-line noise that bothered me all last summer. Sure enough, the Chinese wheel bearings in my front disc brake converted Coronet are pretty crunchy, when I finally took everything apart. The conversion had already been done before I got the car, and am somewhat unfamiliar with them.
The outer bearing is chewed up more than the inner, so that will be swapped for sure. Question is: is the inner bearing supposed to be pressed into the brake rotor? I was basically able to peal it out of the rotor by hand, and felt VERY sloppy before I did so. Is there a race, or something similar that may be toast in the rotor as well?

Thanks in advance. Tyler

 

[R/T Boy 67]

I would replace all the bearings with quality ones. ( Timken). The outer races should be tight in the rotor, and the inners should push easily onto the spindle without any slop. The bearings need to be adjusted with the nut on the end of the spindle, so get a service manual if you don't have one.

 

[tyallis]

Thanks for the words of wisdom. Do all the disc conversion kits take the same bearings/seals/etc? Does a guy just search for bearings for a later model B body? Or do I need to pull numbers off the parts I have?

 

[Billccm]

Most are late 1970s aspen volare. Some others are dodge diplomat.

 

[R/T Boy 67]

Some kits use the drum spindle, and some use 73 and up disc spindle, which take different inner bearings but the same outers. If you can get the numbers, that would be good. If not, measure the inner bearing diameter on the spindle. If it is 1 3/8 then order bearings for a 73 up Dart or valiant . If 1 1/4 then order 62 to 72 B body bearings. There may be some odd kits out there, so bearing numbers are the best way to get what you need.

 

[tyallis]

Some kits use the drum spindle, and some use 73 and up disc spindle, which take different inner bearings but the same outers. If you can get the numbers, that would be good. If not, measure the inner bearing diameter on the spindle. If it is 1 3/8 then order bearings for a 73 up Dart or valiant . If 1 1/4 then order 62 to 72 B body bearings. There may be some odd kits out there, so bearing numbers are the best way to get what you need.

Ok. I assume you are referring to the inside diameter of the bearing? i.e. the diameter of the spindle shaft?

 

[MoparLeo]

Make sure to replace the races as well as the bearings. Use a quality wheel bearing grease. Make sure it is rated for this application. Also the proper bearing pack procedure also includes filling the cavity between the front and rear bearings with grease as well. This assure as the grease heats up that there is plenty of lubrication available to the bearings.
Read this link. A lot of your questions answered.
https://www.allpar.com/history/mopar/brakes/disc-main.html

 

[miller]

For what it's worth...

I either laugh, or shake my head, reading about parts with the outer race already installed.
Yes, use Timken bearings only. My learning on the mess...'always' replace the entire bearing, rollers, inner and outer races! Why? Those bearings are made in sets. There are tolerance limits, when the races are made, for the angle of the roller surfaces, and matched together.

 

[R/T Boy 67]

Yes. Spindle diameter.

 

[tyallis]

Make sure to replace the races as well as the bearings. Use a quality wheel bearing grease. Make sure it is rated for this application. Also the proper bearing pack procedure also includes filling the cavity between the front and rear bearings with grease as well. This assure as the grease heats up that there is plenty of lubrication available to the bearings.
Read this link. A lot of your questions answered.
https://www.allpar.com/history/mopar/brakes/disc-main.html

Thanks for the link. Again... sorry for asking remedial questions; but after reading the article, I am wondering what era of hardware I have? I do not have the "slide type" caliper set up, where the caliper housing physically bolts to its bracket. My single piston caliper sits on top of the bracket, with the flat "spring steel" pieces to hold it down. Though I haven't looked real hard... but I have yet to research a conversion kit with this type of set up. These parts may have been robbed from a late model at some point?

 

[R/T Boy 67]

Sounds like 73 and up slider calipers. Very common. A lot of conversions use this type. They were installed on A bodies, F bodies and most everything else except some B bodies. Pictures would be nice.

 

[Billccm]

Thanks for the link. Again... sorry for asking remedial questions; but after reading the article, I am wondering what era of hardware I have? I do not have the "slide type" caliper set up, where the caliper housing physically bolts to its bracket. My single piston caliper sits on top of the bracket, with the flat "spring steel" pieces to hold it down. Though I haven't looked real hard... but I have yet to research a conversion kit with this type of set up. These parts may have been robbed from a late model at some point?

See post #4

 

[khryslerkid]

Here's a video on doing your new bearing replacement, greasing and proper bearing adjustment. It's drum brake but you do the same on rotors. (High temp grease for rotors).

 

[tyallis]

1 3/8'' spindle diameter
I searched bearings on Summit for a 1976 Aspen. A part number confirmation would be awesome and much appreciated.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/.../year/1976/make/dodge/model/aspen?prefilter=1
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tmk-set2/overview/year/1976/make/dodge/model/aspen
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tmk-5121/overview/year/1976/make/dodge/model/aspen

 

[Billccm]

Looks like the old disc-o-tech conversion

Search allpar.com for disc o tech

I believe you will have all of your answers to parts

 

[R/T Boy 67]

1976 aspen will work for you. Bearings, calipers, pads, and if the rotors are aprox. 11", then rotors too. If the rotors are 11 3/4" then 78 cordoba rotors are what you need. All the other parts I mentioned will work with the big rotors. This is just for future reference.

 

[tyallis]

1976 aspen will work for you. Bearings, calipers, pads, and if the rotors are aprox. 11", then rotors too. If the rotors are 11 3/4" then 78 cordoba rotors are what you need. All the other parts I mentioned will work with the big rotors. This is just for future reference.

Thank you so much for all your help, and answering my numerous questions. Everything else had been touched on this car since I put it together a few years ago; was always curious what the front brake set up is. Now I know! Parts are on the way!!