Wheel Bearing Won't Fit

[Dougt]

I changed front wheel bearings on my 67 1300B 4x4 Utility, FA-52 Front Axle 4.8. I did this after seeing smoke from the front left tire. At teardown noticed that the front left inner bearing was rough. Also observed some discoloration on the axle. The original bearings were Bower 469s. Replaced them with Timken 469s. They did not fit. I replaced the outer bearings with Timkens as well; they fit fine. So I found Bower 469 NOS bearings, figuring that for some reason that the bearing manufacturer was critical. Yesterday I tried to fit four different Bower bearings on the front axle. Three of the four fit the right (passenger) side, none fit the left (driver) side. I have not measured anything. I assumed all 469 bearings would have the same measurements. Is it possible that the heat the axle took due to the bad bearing might have changed the dimensions on the left side? Should I sand the front axle with an emery cloth or similar to make the bearings fit? I don't remember any particular difficulty in removing the left side front axle, but I could be mistaken.

 

[int77345]

yes- i think the heat/bearing going bad made a ridge on your spindle. probably cant see it, maybe you can fell it ?
but its large enough for the bearing clearance tolerance to get stuck on it. you take the bearing that gets stuck and try it on the opposite side, and if it fits that will almost 100% confirm the left side spindle has a ridge.
is a new/used spindle an option ? if not take the emery cloth to it, i have had to emery cloth/sand the spindle on my scout II when i had a bearing spin.

 

[Dougt]

Thank you - I ended up doing that and now it fits fine. But...now I am doing the same thing on the right side. But at least they will fit.