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teachin60 · 09-02-2004, 02:45 PM

Me again, sorry about all the questions but I'm new. Is there a good way to upgrade to roller bearings instead of the stock ball bearings in the front hubs? Disk brake swap? Thanks

teachin60 · 09-02-2004, 02:45 PM

Me again, sorry about all the questions but I'm new. Is there a good way to upgrade to roller bearings instead of the stock ball bearings in the front hubs? Disk brake swap? Thanks

Stuart · 09-02-2004, 04:40 PM

If you keep your stock drum brakes, there is a roller bearing available that will fit in the place of the old ball bearings. I imagine there are other ways to get them, but the one I know of is on eBay - there's a guy on there selling them all the time. I believe he goes by the name, "gmpartsplace."

I just checked and didn't see any on auction right now, but check back there periodically and sooner or later he'll be there.

teachin60 · 09-02-2004, 05:29 PM

I just check. He has the 4 bearing for $125. Seems awful pricey. Anyone know what the inner and outer bearing parts numbers are? I'm sure I could find them cheaper.

60man · 09-02-2004, 05:42 PM

Just use bearing from a later model(8 lug) available at any good aftermarket supplier such as NAPA. Seals also.
$125.00 + shiping sounds a bit much.

Stuart · 09-02-2004, 06:11 PM

The problem is, the outside diameter of the ball bearing races (mid-1961 and earlier) is larger than the later model roller bearing races (late-1961 and on), so they don't interchange.

When I put the 8 lug wheels on my '61 Bonneville I was lucky enough to find a set of '62 drums, so I was able to go down to the parts store and get new roller bearings without any problems.

60man · 09-05-2004, 04:21 AM

Hmmmmmmmmmm. I'll check my reciepts on bearings.
Did not run into a size issue when I converted mine. Maybe they were 62 drums. Any way, a GOOD parts person can find you a race with a larger diameter yet retain same bearing size. Takes a little time but it can be done. I worked for NAPA for 10 years.

DanC · 09-05-2004, 12:48 PM

The 59-64 spindles are interchangable acoording to Hollender Manual, so I bought some '64 roller hubs from a PY'er a while back to put on my '59. Just ain't found the round tuit to replace yet though!

If the races in the hubs have the same OD then you could just buy bearings and races. I thought of that after buying the hubs! Oh well I gotta good deal on 'em anyway.

DanC

Stuart · 09-05-2004, 02:58 PM

OK, this information is from http://www.teufert.net/pontiac/8lug/8lug.htm, it's a copy of the 8 lug data information that was compiled by Roger Riehl.

1958-1961 ball bearings:
Inner 2.6487" OD, 1.25" ID: p/n #909070
Outer 2.0787" OD, .75" ID: p/n #909067

1958-1961 roller bearings (police & heavy duty)
Inner 2.6487" OD, 1.25" ID: p/n #153213Y
(also Hyatt p/n #LM67019)
Outer 2.0787" OD, .75" ID: p/n #113158Y
(also Hyatt p/n #LM11919)

1962-1984 roller bearings (all)
Inner 2.329" OD, 1.25" ID: p/n #7450630
Outer 1.781" OD, .75" ID: p/n #7450627

Inner bearing seal, all with ball bearing and large cup roller 1958-1961: p/n #533249

Inner bearing seal, all with standard roller assembly 1962-1968: p/n #539161

So, the later roller bearings are about 0.3" smaller in outer diameter than the ball bearings. The trick is to find the heavy duty roller bearings to convert the earlier hubs. Maybe the Hyatt part numbers can be cross-referenced to a modern part number.

61-63 · 09-05-2004, 04:29 PM

A good friend bought a set of the conversion bearings from gmpartsplace off ebay and then priced the same races, etc. through NAPA and others. The prices quoted to him were way higher than what he paid on Ebay. They must be buying them in bulk or are selling NOS sets that they paid a lot less for?