OK, for those that don't frequent the vintage section of the Brickboard, I've been having issues with the fittment of my front hubs. I had rebuilt them with all new parts (got a kit) and they were painted and ready to go. Then when I installed them a few weeks ago, I noticed that the cotter pin hole in the spindle was not in the correct place. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but it was nagging at me. So I posted on the BB, and got a range of responses from "it could be air" to "I've never seen that before" - one helpful guy posted part numbers and a picture of what is should look like.
So off the the bearing house afterwork and I swapped out the bearings. Here's what I found. The part numbers on the replacement parts that I bought were identical to the ones that I installed today. Only difference - the new bearings were correct.
Here's a look at the first bearing set (they were CAM bearings - if you're interested. The replacements are Timken).
Notice how far the bearing cage sits down in the race...don't know why I didn't notice this before.
Here's the same race, but with the new cage installed.
Same fit issues - so I drove the cup out and had a look...here's the problem.
The cup is the correct part number, but as you can see the cage fits too deeply (my index finger is where the ground washer and castelated nut would be on the spindle).
Here's the Timken assembled.
This bearing is in the same orientation as the previous shot...note the difference.
Here it is all assembled. The outer bearings are going back to the vendor - he'd better stand behind his product. These bearings would have failed very quickly.
Man, I think I have the worst luck of anyone that I know. I've changed 100's of wheel bearings and never had this problem before.
Craig
