Ford 9 inch wheel bearings

[Scott Stubler]

Bought my Cobra used, so every time something breaks, I have to identify year / model of donor car part and locate part. My question is, trying replace leaking rear bearings. From what I understand, there are several 9 inch rears and bearing sizes. Mine looks to be the big bearing (sealed) , but my rear ends aren't typical Big Ford Old Style, with a flat top and round bottom, nor the new Big Ford style with flatfish tops and bottoms. Mine is flat top and bottom, with 3.5 horizontal and 2 3/8 vertical spacing, big bearing. Any idea what's going on? Is it possible someone cut my bottom end to look like new style, but with the old bolt spacing of 2 3/8 instead of the 2"? Any part number on sealed large bearings appreciated, I've heard varying opinion on Timkens.

[my427cobra]

Hi Scott. Hope this helps.

There are a number of very good visual charts and diagrams on line.

Google " Ford axle flange measurement guide".

Be very careful when ordering axle bearings. Some brands are undersize enough to allow the axle to slip out.

Ask me how I know. Not LOL.

Cheers
Greg

[Scott Stubler]

Thank you my friend.

[spdbrake]

Moser axle ends are shaped like what you are describing.
https://www.moserengineering.com/780...1-2-holes.item

[Scott Stubler]

I think you nailed it, correct bolt spacing and bearing size. Perhaps someone narrowed the rear on the build and welded the Moser ends on. Thanks so much.

[Scott Stubler]

IMG-1779.jpg

[olddog]

When my Chinese wheel bearing failed in my 9" ford with about 10,000 miles on them, I purchased Timkens. When I opened the box, the exact same Chinese bearing was in it. I thought the parts store swapped them somehow. I called Timken and they said that was the correct bearing. I told them that one failed in 10K miles. He said Timken does not sell enough of these bearing to justify making their own so they outsource that bearing. They said that is the only source in the world still making that bearing, as far as they know.

A friend told me his nephew was replacing a Chinese bearing in his 4 wheeler ever 6 months. So he pulled the dust seals, on a new bearing, and the grease in it was terrible. The Bearing appeared well made. He flushed it and packed it with good grease. It had been 2 years at that point, with no failure.

So we did the same thing with my 9" wheel bearings. The grease that was in them stunk like road kill and was thinner than vaseline. Getting the dust seals off and on without damaging them is difficult. He used some picks that looked like dental tools.

That was about 10 years ago. No idea if new bearings today have the same nasty grease in them or not. Likely do, IMHO. If it were me I would pull the dust seals and give them a look.

PS
Practice on the old bearings, and also note what the grease is like in them.