TR2/3/3A Wheel bearings

[Donald1107]

I am looking for advice. My 59 TR3A was purchased used in 1987. It was driven about 1000 miles in 1989-1991. It was stored in my garage from 1991 to 2021, when I began restoring it to operating condition ( not a body-off restoration). As far as I know the wheel bearings are 63 years old, and may have 24,000 (odometer) or 124,000 miles on them. I have driven it about 100 miles this summer and do not detect any wheel bearing noise or grab.

Should I replace the bearings?

TY: Don

 

[charleyf]

Should I replace the bearings?

TY: Don
[/QUOTE]
As a start you should you should look at the bearings. If they look good then clean and regrease them unless the grease is new and clean.
These bearings are very long lasting if properly serviced. But you do not know that. Do you like to gamble?
Charley

 

[sp53]

They come out easy and need to be repacked anyway. The old ones are probably better quality. You will know right away after you soak them in your favorite solvent. When bad, they are scared up with I think the word is galling. It looks like a pitted scar. They are probably Timken brand. In addition, I would leave the races in for now until you figure out if the bearing are scared. Clean them in a rag and do not blow dry them because they can come out of cage rarely sometimes

steve

 

[CJD]

If you are not doing a full, body off restoration, I'd inspect and reuse them.

 

[Donald1107]

Thank you for this advice. To “look” at them, do you mean remove them from the axles? And can one determine whether they are good enough to put back on the axles by looking at them. I assume one can tell if they are packed with grease by looking at them, but new bearings (front) are relatively inexpensive; rear are a bit more expensive. If they have to be removed to determine that they are good or bad, seems that replacing them would be wise. Is there a way to assess the condition without removing them?

Thank you again,
Don

 

[Donald1107]

I see answers to my questions above while I was typing them. So removing is a necessary first step. Thanks for that advice.

Don

 

[charleyf]

I see answers to my questions above while I was typing them. So removing is a necessary first step. Thanks for that advice.

Don

The above advice was only for the front bearings.
Rear bearings are very difficult to remove and inspect. They have a grease zerk near the backside of the brake plates. Refer to a service manual to grease them. If they don't sound bad just lube them.
Charley

 

[Donald1107]

O-KAY! This makes good sense. Thank you for clarifying.

 

[Donald1107]

O-KAY! This makes good sense. Thank you for clarifying.