Spindles and bearings

[dirtcowboy]

I'm in the process of rebuilding spindle and hub bearings from either an F-150 or FSB. The problem is the new Timken bearings won't slide onto the spindle. The old bearings do, snugly, but the new bearings are getting hung up and just won't go on. I did a light clean up with emory cloth but still no joy. The old and new bearings have the same part #'s on the bearing, JBG sells them as type 37 inners. The new type 45's, outers, do fit correctly. Suggestions??

 

[dirtcowboy]

Solved.

 

[SenorNoob]

What was it?

 

[dirtcowboy]

I finally got a little time so I took the spindle, old Timkin bearing and the new Timkin bearing into my local NAPA to show them to a really saavy parts dude. He futzed with it a bit then, all of a sudden, the new bearing "clicked" onto the spindle. He pulled it back off and repeated the futzing until the bearing clicked on again. Note, when removing the bearing, it just slid off, no problem! Success!! I took my prizes home and repeated the process using a large, long, socket, YAY!! I then turned my new rotor and hub over, installed the bearing with a little grease to hold it in place. I installed the spindle and with two light taps from my 32 oz ball peen hammer, another seating!! I then sat the hub and rotor right side up and slid it over the spindle. Now with the weight of the hub and rotor to help it took just one light tap and the unit seated.

Sooo, it appears the Timkin bearing will seat as it appears there is some sort of friction fit but not a press fit.

We also tried the SK brand bearings, the NAPA brand bearing and two chinese version of the bearing and got them all to fit with a bit of persuasion as well.

This is the fifth conversion I've done but have never had a bearing issue like this one. This is also the newest spindle/knuckle unit I've used as well, a '92. The rest were all '80 to '86.