[Rocky 389]

Originally Posted by Stuart

They actually used ball bearings on the front wheels through 1961, and changed to roller bearings in 1962.

Woops! I should have qualified that post....Hollander number 110 [hub and drum section] shows 60 and 61 front hubs with roller bearings for police cars.........doesn't say anything about ambulances or hearses tho.
Al spindles are the same from 59-64 with no changes for heavy duty brakes or changes from ball to roller bearings. And a H.D. front hub from a 60 Poncho is the same as a normal duty for a 61...weird.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Rocky 389

Woops! I should have qualified that post....Hollander number 110 [hub and drum section] shows 60 and 61 front hubs with roller bearings for police cars.........doesn't say anything about ambulances or hearses tho.
Al spindles are the same from 59-64 with no changes for heavy duty brakes or changes from ball to roller bearings. And a H.D. front hub from a 60 Poncho is the same as a normal duty for a 61...weird.

The good thing about that is swapping to roller bearings is as simple as using later hubs. I have 1962 8 lugs on my car, they bolt right on.

There was a special roller bearing available that would fit 1961 and earlier hubs (they had a larger outside diameter to match the ball bearing race size); someone was selling them on eBay a few years back, but they were pretty expensive.

[Poncho60]

I have the conversion bearings on my '60. The outer races are extra thick in order to compensate for the smaller OD of the roller bearings compared to original ball bearings. I saw a set recently on E-bay....I think the starting price was around $150.00 for the set.