11 replies to this topic

[alex-95]

After having a rear bearing failure and therefore scrapping a tyre, hub and radius arm, I'm wondering which type is best? I leaning towards the ball bearings rather than the roller taper bearings.

 

Alex

[nicklouse]

Timken Tapers.

[GraemeC]

You might struggle to get ball now anyway - I know I couldn't last time I want them.

[cian]

Timken bearings nothing else! £30 instock

Cc minis

[tiger99]

Just curious. Why, with so many postings on this forum, and therefore plenty of experience, were you leaning towards ball bearings? Was it because of the many, many tales of defective taper rollers that you have probably seen? That would make perfect sense. The supply of disgracefully bad taper rollers is still continuing.

 

However, if your Mini has been uprated in any way beyond a plain 998, it really, really NEEDS the taper rollers. The old ball type were found to be inadequate, which is why the change happened, so there isn't really any choice in the matter. Unfortunately, that is why the spivs and parasites of the industry are able to flourish with their cheap but dangerously defective taper rollers. The correct Timkens are not cheap. They may come in a Rover or Unipart box as new old stock, which is ok, but if not, please be sure that you are getting GENUINE Timkens as there is massive counterfeiting. See the Timken web site, and other reputable bearing suppliers such as SKF tell a similar tale.

 

As they say, buy cheap, buy twice, or in this case, sometimes die.

[Spider]

Either in a name brand is good on a Mini for the rears.

 

While the taper bearings can take more load, the balls are much more forgiving for any misalignment (which would really only come from the hub itself) and on a Mini, even with wide wheels, there's not enough loading in the rears that make the tapers here a 'must'. Off hand the balls also have a higher speed rating and (almost academically) less drag. I used to use balls front and rear in the race car, but replace the fronts after every meet.

[alex-95]

Cheers guys, will have a look around to see what I can find, will probably end up getting a timken taper set.

[JBW]

Back in the late 60's using roller bearings, they lasted for 2 rallies, I didn't realise then that I could have fitted needle roller bearings !

 

Having fitted 100's of bearings when I was a washing machine engineer, I would rate SKF & Timken as the only ones that lasted, so assume the same applies to cars.

 

For what its worth, the First Line (Daewoo) rear ones on my Fiesta XR2 based kit car last about 8.000 miles, due to hard cornering, it'll be Timken ones next time.

[Spider]

Reading your post JBW reminds me.

 

The use the same bearing assembly in one of the Daewoo or Hyundi cars. I'll see if I can recall which.

[tiger99]

JBW,you would want TAPER ROLLERS, not NEEDLE ROLLERS. The latter have a high radial load carrying capacity but can't provide lateral location.

[JBW]

Excuse my error, you know what I meant.

[tiger99]

Yes, I knew, but others of lesser experience could have been confused, and that would be bad.