Prices paid for rearend bearings

[Tom P.]

This is just for infomation for those of you who are considering rebuilding your 56-62 rearend and installing new bearings (same for 55-64 pass cars).
I just submitted an order to Rock Auto for two complete bearing sets for the rearend (center section, NOT axle bearings). The order was ONLY for bearings, NOT the pinion seal or crush sleeve.
The grand total, including shipping, was $216.07.
REMEMBER, that's for TWO sets of bearings, NOT one set.
All the bearings are Timken and National (BCA) which are known to be good bearings.

[Tom R.]

Re: Prices paid for rearend bearings

What were the Pt. #'s of the Timken Bearings?

[Richard T.]

Re: Prices paid for rearend bearings

Rock Auto is great! I use them for all family car parts needs and some Corvette items. Rich

[Lynn H.]

Re: Prices paid for rearend bearings

Tom,
Thanks for posting, this is great pricing information for comparison when shopping these items. I thought I would add that in my local Detroit area, I usually find most any bearings (and seals) that are still manufactured and available for just about anything at one of the two larger bearing houses in my area. Sometimes up to $75% less than I can buy these items from the automotive part suppliers (this is where most of them get their bearings and seals), and then they mark them up. Not that is necessarily the case with your supplier. The thing about ordering form these places is that you usually have to get the numbers for the bearings and seals, off from the old bearings and seals, so it requires disassembly before ordering. They do not know what is what for particular applications (automotive or otherwise), and require the buyer to tell them what they need. Unless a bearing is really destroyed, this information is usually clearly visible on the old parts. They also can cross reference from one manufacturer to the next, and most often have a good old USA part, along with a cheaper (chinese) version. Same thing with seals, but they can sometimes be harder to find numbers on, but they can work from sizes (usually you need a micrometer for this, to get EXACT sizes for the OD of the seal, and the diameter of the shaft. Most seals (and some bearings) are usually sized in MM, instead of inches, so it may require some conversion to make sure you get the proper parts you need. I have purchased USA made bearings for as little as $5, that were between $15 and $20 from the auto parts or parts houses and catalogs. This can be quite a savings sometimes. The two places I use, and I sure anyone could find online are;
Detroit Ball Bearing (I think they may be Invatech, or something now, but they still carry the DBB name also).
The other place I use (and usually the BEST pricing fro me) is called Bearing Service. If anyone is interested, and cannot find them. Contact me and I will get the information you need. I would guess all industrial areas have bearing houses that may be similar, so you may find someone else in your area that is closer and gives you competitive pricing and similar results. Nothing better than saving $$$. Parts for our cars can be expensive enough, and it is always nice to know how to save a few bucks.
Lynn

[Tom P.]

Re: Prices paid for rearend bearings

What were the Pt. #'s of the Timken Bearings?

These are standard Pt numbers for all brands (National, SKF, Timken, etc) of rearend bearings:
FRONT pinion race-HM88510
FRONT pinion bearing-HM88547
REAR pinion race-HM89410
REAR pinion bearing-HM89449
SIDE carrier race (2rqd)-LM603049
SIDE carier bearing (2rqd)-LM603014

And the pinion seal is 6818. I didn't order any seals because I keep a bunch in stock. I also keep a bunch of crush sleeves in stock.

[Roy B.]

Re: Prices paid for rearend bearings

Lynn is correct , a bearing house will have any bearing you wont if you have the number taken off a bearing , I even get bearings for a 1947 tear drop trailer , or a 1937 ford Columbian 2 speed rear end . I never buy a bearing from a dealer ony direct bearing houses .

[Tom P.]

Re: Prices paid for rearend bearings

Lynn is correct , a bearing house will have any bearing you wont if you have the number taken off a bearing , I even get bearings for a 1947 tear drop trailer , or a 1937 ford Columbian 2 speed rear end . I never buy a bearing from a dealer ony direct bearing houses .

Roy,
When I grew up, they were're called Columbia rearends.

(I bet these other guys have no idea what a Columbia butt is).

[Gary R.]

Re: Prices paid for rearend bearings

I don't rebuild the C1 diffs' but for the C2 & c3's dif and trailing arms I only use USA Timkens. I don't buy them from any parts store or automotive suppliers as I have seen some imports come in from them. I pay more at a bearing house but have never had a problem yet.
This is getting to be a problem, you may have seen rework with imported parts used. I sure have, several times units come in that were done by other rebuilders and have all brands in them. One set of arms had both mexican and chinese bearings in them and both failed,partly due to the poor workmanship of the rebuilder.
Those prices seem very high to me. I'm going to check my supplier just to compare.

[Roy B.]

Re: Prices paid for rearend bearings

Roy,
When I grew up, they were're called Columbia rearends.

(I bet these other guys have no idea what a Columbia butt is).

Your just an old man and must have had Fords , that columbian was sweet going into over drive. Vacuum operated too

[Terry M.]

Re: Prices paid for rearend bearings

Roy,
When I grew up, they were're called Columbia rearends.

(I bet these other guys have no idea what a Columbia butt is).

I don't think Roy does either, even though he is from the area of California that grows the finest agricultural kind.

[Tom P.]

Re: Prices paid for rearend bearings

Whoops, I miss spelled it, it was SUPPOSED to read:
When I grew up, they were NOT called Columbia rearends.

[Dan A.]

Re: Prices paid for rearend bearings

Roy,
When I grew up, they were're called Columbia rearends.

(I bet these other guys have no idea what a Columbia butt is).

I know what they are and I'd like to have one for "Henry". He tops out at 50, no highway at all.

[Lynn H.]

Re: Prices paid for rearend bearings

I don't think Roy does either, even though he is from the area of California that grows the finest agricultural kind.

and:
Whoops, I miss spelled it, it was SUPPOSED to read:
When I grew up, they were NOT called Columbia rearends.

I must be WAAAAAY younger than the rest of you.

I thought Columbia was a record company, I am old enough to remember those.

I remember (or most likely, someone just told me about) the agricultural product (that supposedly can come for California these days) as being "Columbian".

Lynn

[Gary R.]

Re: Prices paid for rearend bearings

Tom
Just to follow up I reread your post and see you bought 2 sets of bearings. My cost on one set with seal is $107 -shipping not incl.