[Vwdiesel] Limping Home: Front Wheel Bearings

[slatersfb@aol.com]

TIMKIN is a brand name, but the tapered TIMKIN roller bearing is a wonder of engineering IMHO; patented too I believe. Unbelievably tough. One front wheel drive car I owned had them as standard equipment - can't remember which for sure. 89 Fox maybe. Any ways, they are preloadable. They are used in pinion bearing of rear ends as well as differential carrier. Also used on power side of crank in HD Sportster. My 38 Indian has them for the rear wheel - original equipment. 
My understanding was that due to the preload, friction is considerably higher; not so noticable in small rear wheel aplication, but more pronounced in larger front wheel bearing. Balls are best for low friction, better fuel mileaqge.
A look in a bearing catalog might show a tapered Timkin repalcement for VW.
They cost more, too, usually.
 
 
Bob in the Entire State
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: LBaird119 at aol.com
To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
Sent: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 15:30:21 EDT
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Limping Home: Front Wheel Bearings


In a message dated 9/13/2005 11:34:13 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
h_hagar at prcn.org writes:

> Rear legs are Timpken ---on Rabbits.---Why ? NOT the front ?---
> stupid.
> 

  I always thought Timken was simply a brand name of bearings like F.A.G.?
Can't preload a roller bearing the way the double ball bearings on the front 
are 
since the preload is on the inner race rather than the bearings themselves.  
If you can't preload it then your axle just might come loose.  It's a splined 

drive axle rather than a spindle as the rear has.  It NEEDS heavy tension 
or it'll wobble and get sloppy.  
  BTW, Porsche 911's use the exact same front Rabbit bearing for their 
rear wheels.    :-)
      Loren
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