Hawkeye1980

iTrader: (3)

So I have to replace my front wheel bearings. I only did this once YEARS ago. I went to the auto store today and she asked me if the bearings are the high performance kind? I figured yes. She had one of these bearings with the race and one of the rear bearing seals.

Ok so I have 2 front brake hats from the last time I did the brakes, they can be cut being they are years old, so I saved them. I tried fitting this outer front bearing to the old race on the old hat, it doesnt fit. meaning the new bearing and race have a different pitch or angle. The new race itself looks like it can be tapped in and used with the new bearing. But I have never heard of a high performance vs. standard front outer bearing kit for the front brake hats.

Am I going to be OK using these new high performance front outer bearings? they are national brand number A-3.
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I am going to move to LS brakes in the future but for now I just need to fix the thumping noise I am getting form the front left. thanks for any info!

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

High performance = you have RPO 1LE

For the rest of us who aren't among that few hundred, we're low performance. No 1LE. The same Saginaw brakes as had been coming on cars & trucks since the late 60s.

If your calipers are cast iron and mostly flat, you have the same ones everybody else does. The 1LE calipers are aluminum and have fins.

Take the "high perf" bearings back and get the right ones.

Hawkeye1980

iTrader: (3)

Ahh ok, thanks! Does the same go for the inner bearings as well? High vs. low performance?

Hawkeye1980

iTrader: (3)

I confirmed my fronts are definitely not 1LE, flat cast iron calipers.. ..but the rears are aluminum calipers huh.

J.C. Denton

iTrader: (1)

The inner bearings are always the same, 1LE affects the outer bearing only. On cars without 1LE, the outer bearings are A-34, on all cars the inner bearings are A-6.

Hawkeye1980

iTrader: (3)

Hmm... OK they gave me A-3s. Not sure what they are for but I will get them exchanged to A-34s thanks!

Hawkeye1980

iTrader: (3)

OK got the A-34s, thanks again all!

mikeceli

iTrader: (2)

What is this "Hats" stuff I am reading lately? I can only imagine it is slang for "Floating (brake) Rotors"...IE the type rotor used on front wheel drive cars and some rear wheel drive vehicles. Said rotor sits or "floats" on a hub assembly, that is keyed into a drive axle, or "Half shaft" .

The 3rd gen F bodies use a brake rotor/hub assembly, with 2 serviceable bearings and races, on the front axle.

Anyway, get the correct bearings and advise if you have any other questions.

Hawkeye1980

iTrader: (3)

Yes I stand corrected, ROTORS. LOL sorry for any confusion!

J.C. Denton

iTrader: (1)

A-3 are the bearings for 1LE cars. They are larger than the A-34.

Hawkeye1980

iTrader: (3)

I know that now, HAHA. I only replaced my bearings once in this car back in the late 90s. Guess the parts guy in that store years ago new what I had. Yes, the the A-34s are smaller than the A-3s.

Hawkeye1980

iTrader: (3)

I just did my right side wheel. The race was in to deep, but I got it out. Tomorrow will do the drivers side and see whats causing the clunking noise when I turn left.

mikeceli

iTrader: (2)

What do you mean it was in TOO deep?

Was it a PITA to remove the race, because the grooves for the punch, to push the the race, were not milled out?

Hawkeye1980

iTrader: (3)

The front race was pushed all the way into the rotor. On my other back up set of rotors it's was near the top. Plus the front bearing was plastic around the rollers. The back ones were metal as are the replacements.

Yes it was a bit of a pain taking out the front race.had to find the right flat head screwdriver.

mikeceli

iTrader: (2)

I assume by front race, you mean outer ? There are outer and inner races, on 3Rd gen F Body front hubs(rotors). Outer sits under the spindle nut and keyed washer, inner is closer to the "upright" portion of the steering knuckle. Spindle and knuckle are one piece, the upright part is vertical and is attached to the upper ans lower ball joints. The spindle is the axle shaft,(horizontal) sort of thing, that the bearings slip onto.

I am NOT trying to nit pick you, just help you learn.

I don't understand the race pushed "all the way in". All the way in would be out the back of the hub. As far as the plastic around the bearing, that is called the "Cage". They used to always be metal, but in a cost cutting move, some employ plastic cages. I do NOT care for plastic cages.

Hawkeye1980

iTrader: (3)

I am a bit rusty on terminology. I used to be better at this in my younger days haha. But yes the outer bearing race was pressed further into the rotor. And yes the cage on the old one is plastic which to me is kind of surprising. I used to know a lot about bearings back in the day if you will. So I understand what you are saying.
i changed them once years ago back in the 90s when I did a brake job on it. The last time I had the bearings done again was by a tech several years ago being I was moving. They were acting up and I had nowhere to work on them myself at the time. It was my daily driver up until 1999 when I purchased my Wrangler..
i am driving the bird more now than I have in years.

​​​​​​

Hawkeye1980

iTrader: (3)

Ok so both sides are done! The drivers side inner bearing seal was shot and the inner bearing was loose. Got both sides buttoned up and she runs awesome! Man this is so fun to drive, it was like time travel for me.

mikeceli

iTrader: (2)

Good job!

Hawkeye1980

iTrader: (3)

Thank you as well for you valuable input! I plan a big brake update next spring, like LSXMATT. First I need new carpeting.

Sweatlock

iTrader: (1)

So they’re called disc brakes but the disc itself is referred to as a rotor - why? I’ve never heard anyone call them “rotor brakes” vs. drums and if the rotor isn’t the “disc”, then what is?

mikeceli

iTrader: (2)

Just one of those things. Usually referred to as "Rotor" but "Disc" is also used, just not as much as rotor.