1960 Chevy Apache wheel bearings 62 hubs?

[red7218]

Hi everyone, I'm hoping you guys have an old Hollander book or can help me on this one. I'll try to keep this short. I'm working on an all original 60,000 mile 1960 Apache 10 for a friend that just had a catistrophic front wheel bearing failure (ball type). It gets very limited use so the guy wants to keep the original drums but is not crazy about those bearings. In looking for a replacement spindle, I found out that the spindle covers 1960-62. The ball type wheel bearings were used 1960-61. The tapered wheel bearings started in 1962. The drums are the same from 1960 to at least 65.

My question is: Why couldn't someone use a 1962 (or later maybe) hub to upgrade to tapered roller wheel bearings and retain the rest of the factory spindle and drum brakes or is there some other way that you might know of to accomplish this? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks Marshall

[red7218]

I just found out that the spindle that I was sold for my truck will only fit the 1962 model and is not intended for the 1960 model. the ball joints appear to be the same so mabe I can still pull this off. Anyone tried this before?

[Corts60]

If he is not planning on driving it much, why not just keep the ball bearings? My 60 rides great and my bearings have 80K on them.

Just my opinion....

[red7218]

It may come to that although at this point the truck needs at least one hub and one spindle, a set of ball type bearings cost $275. If I can buy two hubs and two spindles, upgrade to better bearing and spend less money...................

[red7218]

Corts , Just so you know if you ever fall out of love with those troublesome and expensive ($250 a set) original ball bearings, all you have to do to change a 60-61 CHEVY over is find a pair of newer 62-68 1/2 ton 2wd hubs. They slide right on the original spindles. Done deal. The hubs cost me $50 and the tapered wheel bearings and seals to match (@Autozone) cost me $50 ($100) total. Cheaper and better, whats not to like about that.

I can't say for sure if the same trick will work on your GMC, but what do you have to loose

[protrash64]

Cool info....it always amazes me what swaps out on these trucks.

[padresag]

no way a set of brgs cost that type of money; unless that you meant everything there
there must be someone on here that has a spindle and hub kickng around
ron

[red7218]

Ron I was shocked too. The price I was quoted was $109 each for inners and $26 each for outers plus shipping. If you can find them.

This is NAPA's price for them.

http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...d=3&SubCatId=9

62 and up inners were $13.99 and 62- up outers were $7.99 .

Something I forgot to mention, you will need the dust caps and spindle nut washers from the newer truck. They have a smaller outside diameter.

[padresag]

I think that they have you bending over
you have nbrs stamped on the brgs. take those nbrs and eveen the old brgs with you to a place that just deals in brgs. you will find them under power transmission or bearings and let them price them out for you. somethingg is not right there
ron

[alexxwing]

ya i would change over it seems like way to much work for what it is

[austin60c10]

Any ideas if there is a source for 62-68 hubs other than salvage yards? I'm having trouble finding any local and would like to do this bearing swap.

[slepysal]

I was going to do that swap and found my hubs on the 67-72 classified section. I I decided to go with a disc brake swap instead. ( that I have yet to do) If you cant find them let me know I should still have them.

[austin60c10]

Thank you slepysal!

[Thiessen1960]

Does anyone have a picture of the hubs? This is the piece that sits on the spindle correct? Thanks in advance.

[markeb01]

I found out about the hub swap about a year after I swapped my front end for discs. Had I known changing them was that easy, I may well have kept the stock front suspension. The real issue isn't the "ball" bearing design. It's the quality of the ball bearings made today. Although the basic design doesn't compare to roller bearings in strength and durability, original ball bearings could easily go beyond 100k if cleaned and greased regularly. I grew up in the time where this was routine maintenance, and I was taught by an old timer how to check the torque.

I went through 3 sets of the horrendously expensive new bearings before I swapped the suspension. The problem today is the very limited demand for ball bearings (on front wheels anyway). To the best of my knowledge those are presently offshore production only. I commuted in my truck 72 miles every day, and would not been able to keep driving it if I couldn't find a replacement for those inferior ball bearings.

[Thiessen1960]

I want to make it my summer daily driver as well and would like to eliminate those ball bearings. I think there is a scrap 1963 truck in my area as well, I was just curious about whether people preferred the disc setup or the drum. I found McGaughy's makes a disc brake kit for my truck which is about $300.

[jbgroby]

Red,

I'm having a bit of trouble finding some you wrote about in the post below. Would you happen to have a part number I goggled the following

62-68 1/2 ton 2wd hubs

A few things popped up but I'm searching kinda blind. Also ar ethe the 6 lugs> That what my rims are for.

Thanks
Jake

Originally Posted by red7218

Corts , Just so you know if you ever fall out of love with those troublesome and expensive ($250 a set) original ball bearings, all you have to do to change a 60-61 CHEVY over is find a pair of newer 62-68 1/2 ton 2wd hubs. They slide right on the original spindles. Done deal. The hubs cost me $50 and the tapered wheel bearings and seals to match (@Autozone) cost me $50 ($100) total. Cheaper and better, whats not to like about that.

I can't say for sure if the same trick will work on your GMC, but what do you have to loose

[Railroader]

I have the two spindles and wheel assemblies off my 63 C10 when I did the disc break upgrade if you interested. Bearings and brake cylinders have less than 2,000 miles from initial restoration.