8 1/4 Axle bearing help - got it figured out!

[sdweatherman]

Got a mystery for all of you. My 8 1/4 axle in my 1971 Sebring Plus has a casting number of 2852905. I went to purchase the outer bearings and seals, and they are too small. I double checked at several parts sites and the recommended bearings for the 8 1/4 have an inside dia of 1.4 inches, and an outside dia of 2.25 inches. Using a tape measure, I can easily see from the actual inner axle that the dia is closer to 1.5 inches, and the measurement from the axle housing shows close to 2.5 inches for the outer dia of the bearing. Has anyone run across this discrepancy before???

2852905 shows up as 69-70 B-body, which doesn't surprise me because my car is an Aug '70 build. I checked for bearing size on 70 Satellites, and it also shows the 1.4/2.25 dia bearings. I am at a loss..... I have been searching for an 8 1/4 axle application that requires larger bearings, but have not found anything yet.

Thanks, Scott.

[71bird]

I don't know about the parts mixup, but what I would do is, take the numbers off of the original bearings, and the races, and go to an industrial supply house, and order U.S. made timken parts. Then you will have the correct stuff, and it won't be the junk that the parts stores sell. Even the Timken parts at the parts stores are made overseas, so go to a industry house.

[sdweatherman]

Thanks 71bird - but the originals are long gone. I may have figured it out - I might have a later B-body axle - like out of a 75-76 Charger. The measurements are 1.6 inch inner and 2.5 inch outer diameters. Test fit tomorrow.

[71bird]

One other thing, and this is what I did. Go to a store where you know someone, and get them to let you look at the bearings, and races, and get the number directly off of them, and let the supply house cross them to Timken parts. Don't use the catalogue numbers, but what is stamped on the part.

[sdweatherman]

Yep, I must have a later B-Body axle, as the the 2.5" diameter bearings fit nice and snug in the end of the axle tubes. Now on to putting the brakes and leaf springs back together!
Scott.