Rear axle bearings

[vtboy51]

I've just pulled my rear axle to replace leaky seals and was thinking about replacing the bearings. I looked in the WH catalog and they show bearings and a tappered roller bearing, what do I need? My current setup looks to have just the bearings. How do get the old off, and do new ones need to be pressed on?

 

[vtboy51]

Here are some pics


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AndyT]

You can cut the old ones off. New ones will need to be pressed on.

 

[Crawdad]

Those bearings look like the same ones I took apart on my 77. Removing the old bearing are easy if you are good at operating a cut-off wheel just don't cut into the shaft itself. Take a chisel punch and lightly tap into the groove (I made several notches). I suggest punching away from the shaft and not directly into the axle shaft as the bearing will break real easy.

Be sure to inspect ur axle shafts to see if they have grooves worn by the out seal on the axle housing. Here's a thread I started. It might give you an idea what I'm talking about.
http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=277465

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, the ring behind the bearing is what holds it on. That is what they are saying to cut. Different Ford 9" rears use different bearings. Make sure the new bearings match. The new bearings come with the retainer. Most machine shops and truck spring shops and some auto parts stores can press the bearings off and on. You need a press and a bearing splitter. You should be able to find the bearings and seals locally. Good luck

 

[Apogee]

I usually cold chisel the bearing retainer against an anvil, then press off the bearings with a bearing splitter and press. Assuming the axle is in decent shape, I then lightly press on the new bearing, heat the retainer collar, oil the retainer and axle and press it on, which definitely requires some force.

 

[jmangi62]

This is all great advice, I just went thru this, put in new gears, locker, and new fluid, then after about a week of sitting, I noticed fluid dripping down the inside of my tires, oh shit! Had some small grooves and pitting in the original shafts, so I ordered new shafts from WildHorses, they come with the bearings already pressed on, ordered new seals and simple install. Although it was a unexpected thing, it was typical of my "one step forward, two steps back project" so I figured the new axles were a no brainer, now everything is new and happy again.

 

[DirtDonk]

What they said vtboy. And a VERY good call on your part to think about replacing old bearings. They may have been replaced at some point already, but unless you know for sure when that was, it's better to replace now than to go chasing your wheel down the highway some lonely night!

Look for a part number on the existing bearing, or at lest get a measurement to determine if it's a "small" or "large" bearing. About 2.8" is small, and about 3.1" is large.
Your seal and bearing will both be the same type.

Do not try to upgrade to the tapered bearing, as that requires a different size axle shaft.

Yours initially looks to be the small bearing type, but I haven't looked at the chart to see what the shape of the housing end indicates.

Some good news (compared to most old axle shafts) is that your seal area looks to be in great shape. A little cleaning with some 400 sandpaper (a few twists, with a little oil on them, then a cleaning) will make them like new again. Or at least the one in the pic.
Many have grooves worn into them, and rust pitting the surface. Not good for a new seal.
Appears that the PO's kept the oil level up to snuff and the oil condition clean.

Paul