My CMC Flared body sits on a 1987 Metal Craft frame. It has original 4 wheel disc brakes. The left rear caliper is a brand new Empi part #22-2959-B.
Does any one know what brand the wheel bearings are?
Thx - Bayniac
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Wheel bearing often carry a make and part number on the rim of the bearing cage (or the pressed in bearing race like on the front spindles). You can go to a bearing place and they can cross reference. Aren't many bearing makers out there (SKF/FAG/TIMKO) - fortunately EMPI isn't one. I'd guessing they are stock VW bearings so pick swing axle or IRS. Should be inner and outer bearings.
Thank you Wolfgang
Totally agree with Wolfie. If you have a bearing supplier nearby (google "bearing suppliers near me"), just take your old bearing over to them and they will (most likely) ignore any part numbers stamped into the outer case and just measure the OD, ID and thickness and determine what's inside (ball or roller), wander out back for a couple of minutes and return and hand you a new one. They may ask you what it's used in to get an idea of quality level needed. Be honest.
Yes, it's that simple.
Just remember that swing arm and IRS hub bearings are quite different, if you go that route, but either can be had at www.bugcity.com and you can find German FAG ones there, too.
Hold on there, old fellas’.
EMPI may not make bearings (FWIW, they don’t MAKE anything at all, just source it from the cheapest manufacturer in East Asia), but they certainly do supply bearings with their kits, and they are generally of a quality I would not recommend. Lots and lots of places besides SKS and Timkin make bearings, but I’d not trust anything not made in Northern Europe, Japan, or here.
I go to bearing shops for work, and what the dude brings out of the back may or may not be made in one of these places. I’m at the point of refusing to use them if they aren’t.
Also, the guy at the counter is generally the guy who's the newest and least experienced. If you're having trouble, ask to talk to somebody with industrial accounts. When in doubt, match whatever you have to an SKS or Timkin bearing. Buy once, cry once.
I buy all my transmission-related stuff from Weddle industries. I agree with Stan above with the exception that the best you can get in the VW world sometimes is Brazilian bearings.
Not many Metal Crat chassis out there. That's what I wanted but could not find any for sale at the time.
A local only VW repair shop had mid 1970's beatle/bug bearings that matched up. Put 50 miles on new caliper & bearings today. Mission accomplished. Thanks to all for input.
