Tapered roller bearings? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**sofilofi** · 09-13-2015, 01:34 PM

Hello everyone,I need to get front wheel bearings for my 53 1/2 ton and figure I might as well get the tapered rollers.My question is where (vendor)can I get better ones (made in Japan)? I would rather get US made but from what I've read no one makes them.I have stock hubs and keeping drums.
Thanks in advance.

mr48chev · 09-13-2015, 03:08 PM

That may be a hard call. Bearings made in Japan are probably ok as I've used a lot of bearings from Japan in the past without problems. It's the ones made in China that may be suspect and have poor quality control.

**Dan in Pasadena** · 09-13-2015, 03:39 PM

Maybe I'm out of the loop, has Timken Bearing gone out of business? Anything made in Japan is of the highest quality, better than our stuff in a lot of cases. The days of "Japanese junk" are 40 years behind us at least.

**sofilofi** · 09-13-2015, 05:02 PM

Thanks for the replies.What I'm trying to find out is if anybody knows which if any of the aftermarket vendors carry the Japanese ones.

**Rickysnickers** · 09-14-2015, 10:11 AM

There's a bearing company down in Fallbrook, CBR Bearing. If you have a part number or the bearing itself in front of you, call them and I'm sure they can help you out.

**sofilofi** · 09-14-2015, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

There's a bearing company down in Fallbrook, CBR Bearing. If you have a part number or the bearing itself in front of you, call them and I'm sure they can help you out.

Cool,thank you.I'll check them out

capnduane · 09-14-2015, 04:06 PM

I installed the tapered roller set in my '55 2nd from CPP, over two years ago. I drive my truck almost every day. No problemos.... Nice quality set with rubber lipped seals. Don't know where they were manufactured, probably China......

whitedog76 · 09-14-2015, 06:08 PM

I have MBS (Japan) bearings in my 54 3600. On a first impression, they are quite beefy and well made. When it comes to fitment, they were very tight. I had to use quite a bit of emery cloth on the hubs to get the races to go in. The spindle, same story. Lots of emery to get them to slide on.
The OE felt seal woudn't work on the bearings either. I had to cross reference a rubber lip seal. I couldn't drive the seal in all the way, or it would get into the bearing.
I also had to use a bushing between the inner bearing and spindle because there was too much end play, the hub wouldn't seat all the way.

Now, I know, I have a 60 year old truck, so I'm sure the spindles could've been slighty out of round and there is no telling what has been done to the truck over the years.

They seem to be good quality products, but need a little improving. I'm sure I'll get years of service out of them.

On the flipside, If I had to do it all over again, I would stick with the original ball bearings. With the modern high temp greases, they are more than up to the task.

These vendors have tapered and ball bearings availible

http://www.classictruck.com/

https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/

09-13-2015, 01:34 PM	#1
sofilofi Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Whittier CA Posts: 78	Tapered roller bearings? Hello everyone,I need to get front wheel bearings for my 53 1/2 ton and figure I might as well get the tapered rollers.My question is where (vendor)can I get better ones (made in Japan)? I would rather get US made but from what I've read no one makes them.I have stock hubs and keeping drums. Thanks in advance.

09-13-2015, 03:08 PM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,284	Re: Tapered roller bearings? That may be a hard call. Bearings made in Japan are probably ok as I've used a lot of bearings from Japan in the past without problems. It's the ones made in China that may be suspect and have poor quality control. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

09-13-2015, 03:39 PM	#3
Dan in Pasadena Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 6,331	Re: Tapered roller bearings? Maybe I'm out of the loop, has Timken Bearing gone out of business? Anything made in Japan is of the highest quality, better than our stuff in a lot of cases. The days of "Japanese junk" are 40 years behind us at least. __________________ '55 Big Window Shortbed, Drive-It-&-Work-On-It slid down the "slippery slope" to a Frame-Off Rodstoration! LQ4/4l85e/C4 IFS/Mustang 8.8 rearend w/3.73's Dan's '55 Big Window "Build" - Well, Kinda!

09-13-2015, 05:02 PM	#4
sofilofi Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Whittier CA Posts: 78	Re: Tapered roller bearings? Thanks for the replies.What I'm trying to find out is if anybody knows which if any of the aftermarket vendors carry the Japanese ones.

09-14-2015, 10:11 AM	#5
Rickysnickers Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Eagle, ID Posts: 2,937	Re: Tapered roller bearings? There's a bearing company down in Fallbrook, CBR Bearing. If you have a part number or the bearing itself in front of you, call them and I'm sure they can help you out.

09-14-2015, 04:06 PM	#7
capnduane Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Moreno Valley, Calif. Posts: 244	Re: Tapered roller bearings? I installed the tapered roller set in my '55 2nd from CPP, over two years ago. I drive my truck almost every day. No problemos.... Nice quality set with rubber lipped seals. Don't know where they were manufactured, probably China...... __________________ '55 Chevy 1/2ton pickup w/ Pontiac 350 and Muncie M21 close ratio 4speed "Red Ryder"

09-14-2015, 06:08 PM	#8
whitedog76 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Peoria, IL Posts: 1,450	Re: Tapered roller bearings? I have MBS (Japan) bearings in my 54 3600. On a first impression, they are quite beefy and well made. When it comes to fitment, they were very tight. I had to use quite a bit of emery cloth on the hubs to get the races to go in. The spindle, same story. Lots of emery to get them to slide on. The OE felt seal woudn't work on the bearings either. I had to cross reference a rubber lip seal. I couldn't drive the seal in all the way, or it would get into the bearing. I also had to use a bushing between the inner bearing and spindle because there was too much end play, the hub wouldn't seat all the way. Now, I know, I have a 60 year old truck, so I'm sure the spindles could've been slighty out of round and there is no telling what has been done to the truck over the years. They seem to be good quality products, but need a little improving. I'm sure I'll get years of service out of them. On the flipside, If I had to do it all over again, I would stick with the original ball bearings. With the modern high temp greases, they are more than up to the task. These vendors have tapered and ball bearings availible http://www.classictruck.com/ https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/



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