8.8 wheel end bearing upgrade

[CopyKat]

I'm building up my ranger 8.8 and a buddy of mine gave me a set of wheel end bearings that he was going to use in his 7.5 in his broncoII. He junked the bronco before using them. There is no instructions as they were not in boxes, when I got them.

From the looks of it they don't need an end seal as they are part of the bearing cartridge. These bearings also move the wear pattern out on the axle shaft. Which is kinda better as I'll be running spacer/adapters for my wheels.

For the life of me I can't find any info online about them. I was told they are an upgraded bearing, by my buddy and the shop that set up my gears. I can pull one out and take a picture if anyone is interested.

Anyone have experience with these bearings? Are they any good?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Post up a picture Joel

 

[CopyKat]

Post up a picture Joel

Fawker, your gonna make me pull one out. I've got them both pounded in already.

I'll see what I can do.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

ive heard of offset bearings that move the contact area to a different spot on the shaft. its so you can reuse your severly pitted/worn axle shafts. ive never heard of a bearing with an integral oil seal though.

 

[CopyKat]

ive heard of offset bearings that move the contact area to a different spot on the shaft. its so you can reuse your severly pitted/worn axle shafts. ive never heard of a bearing with an integral oil seal though.

Pounding these in it doesn't seem to want to go any further than what I have and there is no way I'd get any seal on the end. I have a pair of brand new seals and just comparing the seal on the bearing cartridge and the factory replacement they look like they are nearly in the same location and size.

 

[F150hybred]

Stupid question here... did you remove the old bearings first?

 

[CopyKat]

Stupid question here... did you remove the old bearings first?

Good Grief, does it look like I have blonde hair and wear a skirt??

OF COURSE I pulled the OLD bearings OUT.

I was told that they seal at the axle shaft fine but tend to leak around the outside and housing. There is an O-ring that seals around the housing but I'll apply a liberal amount of RTV on the outside sealing surface and pop them back in.

Too bad I didn't hear about this before hand or you guys would be S.O.L. for pictures.

 

[MAKG]

Good Grief, does it look like I have blonde hair and wear a skirt??

You know, this being the Internet, you might be just that, and we wouldn't have a clue....

I've heard of those integral seal bearings. A parts house tried to sell me a pair when I was rebuilding the 7.5 on my Bronco II. It had worn 1/16 inch pretty shiny slots into the axleshafts, and these guys suggested I go with those "space saver" bearings instead of getting junkyard axleshafts. I didn't take their advice....I was a bit concerned about lost strength.

 

[F150hybred]

Joel, I had to ask... but only because I someone I once worked with in a shop... tried just that without removing the old bearing. Thinking back to it, it was rather comical watching him.... I believe he worked on it for the better part of a half day before the boss came in and asked what the problem was.

 

[CopyKat]

I'm debating if I should use these bearings or just get new factory ones. I guess I could always run these and if I start to have problems I could pull them out and get proper ones. I'll still have the seals.

 

[F150hybred]

If the axle is in good shape, use original.

 

[CopyKat]

If the axle is in good shape, use original.

I'm thinking that may be the way I go. Something tells me that I should run with these bearings but another part of me says I don't feel like doing this twice.

 

[F150hybred]

Well Joel, we can sit here and tell you to do this and that and not this or that. In the end, you gotta do what looks and feels rite with you. Iffen yer askin me, I would splurge and get the original style. But then again, you know I like to do things properly the first go round.

 

[CopyKat]

Here are pictures of the bearings. I'm not going to use them and will be getting some stock bearings.

Let's just say I had issues with the spring on the seal and well I'm now down to one of these bearings.

 

[Bent Bolt]

I know them as " axle saver " bearings. They are OK for high miler stock vehicles that need to get back on the road for cheap ( think taxi ).I've always regarded them as being weaker than stock and would NOT install them on a truck that sees any type of load ( big tires too ) .