61 gmc wheel bearing question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

thebeast61 · 10-27-2011, 08:01 AM

I need the front wheel bearings for my 61. the price for an inner, outer and a seal is $175 at the parts house. is that the best i can do or will bearings from another model truck fit that will be cheaper? im beginning to think i bought the wrong truck. this year gmc is so hard to find parts for and it seems everything is expensive.
its a 1000 with 305.
thanks for your help.

markeb01 · 10-27-2011, 01:19 PM

I've read earlier threads indicating 1962-63 spindles use tapered roller bearings, and are a direct swap for the 1960-61 spindles. This eliminates the outrageously priced (and inferior quality) ball bearings. Eliminating the ball bearings was one of the main reasons I swapped in a 1975 front suspension. Had I known about the spindle swap I might have hung on to the torsion bar front end. Ball bearings aren't as efficient as tapered roller bearings to begin with, but current production ball bearings are substantially inferior to the items produced when these trucks were new. I'm an old guy that grew up with ball bearings and now how to set them. Regardless I burned up 4 sets of now ones before I had enough and eliminated the problem.

I tried a quick search for one of the earlier threads to confirm the information, but found no results. The threads may have been posted on another forum. You might want to start a new thread specifically asking about the spindle/bearing swap. It might result in more detailed information.

Good luck.

**Corts60** · 10-27-2011, 04:46 PM

also be sure to try jolly's website if you haven't already:

www.6066gmcguy.org

Big Fenders · 10-27-2011, 10:05 PM

You didn't buy the wrong truck...just change out the spindles as suggested and get the cheaper and better tapered roller bearings .
That's what i did with this forums help....
Bob

fsae0607 · 06-04-2014, 06:30 PM

Hello. I'm bringing this old thread back up because I too want to convert to tapered rollers on my 61 GMC 1/2 ton. I've found this on the NAPA website under "1961 GMC 1000":

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...R37_0073872647

Also found this:

http://www.1aauto.com/wheel-hub-bear...FcHm7AodS1gA7Q

Does this mean that now they make retrofit bearings? The NAPA one looks like it has a radius to accommodate the fillet on the spindle. Has anyone gone this route? Just want to know before I start hunting for '62-'68 hubs.

Thanks!

10-27-2011, 08:01 AM	#1
thebeast61 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: texas city, texas Posts: 66	61 gmc wheel bearing question I need the front wheel bearings for my 61. the price for an inner, outer and a seal is $175 at the parts house. is that the best i can do or will bearings from another model truck fit that will be cheaper? im beginning to think i bought the wrong truck. this year gmc is so hard to find parts for and it seems everything is expensive. its a 1000 with 305. thanks for your help.

10-27-2011, 01:19 PM	#2
markeb01 Senior Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Spokane Valley, WA Posts: 8,356	Re: 61 gmc wheel bearing question I've read earlier threads indicating 1962-63 spindles use tapered roller bearings, and are a direct swap for the 1960-61 spindles. This eliminates the outrageously priced (and inferior quality) ball bearings. Eliminating the ball bearings was one of the main reasons I swapped in a 1975 front suspension. Had I known about the spindle swap I might have hung on to the torsion bar front end. Ball bearings aren't as efficient as tapered roller bearings to begin with, but current production ball bearings are substantially inferior to the items produced when these trucks were new. I'm an old guy that grew up with ball bearings and now how to set them. Regardless I burned up 4 sets of now ones before I had enough and eliminated the problem. I tried a quick search for one of the earlier threads to confirm the information, but found no results. The threads may have been posted on another forum. You might want to start a new thread specifically asking about the spindle/bearing swap. It might result in more detailed information. Good luck.

10-27-2011, 04:46 PM	#3
Corts60 Just here to tinker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Holland, MI Posts: 3,697	Re: 61 gmc wheel bearing question also be sure to try jolly's website if you haven't already: www.6066gmcguy.org __________________ 78 C10 SWB Diesel #1 (wrecked)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...1978+silverado 78 C10 SWB Diesel #2 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=650751 60 GMC Suburban (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=445526 60 GMC 1000 (sold)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=298235 67 GMC 1500 (sold) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=803695 73 Chevy C20(Daily)http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=852767 86 Suburban(summer unit) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=810697 88 Suburban 4x4(sold)

10-27-2011, 10:05 PM	#4
Big Fenders Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tucson Arizona Posts: 264	Re: 61 gmc wheel bearing question You didn't buy the wrong truck...just change out the spindles as suggested and get the cheaper and better tapered roller bearings . That's what i did with this forums help.... Bob

06-04-2014, 06:30 PM	#5
fsae0607 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Winnetka, CA Posts: 2	Re: 61 gmc wheel bearing question Hello. I'm bringing this old thread back up because I too want to convert to tapered rollers on my 61 GMC 1/2 ton. I've found this on the NAPA website under "1961 GMC 1000": http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...R37_0073872647 Also found this: http://www.1aauto.com/wheel-hub-bear...FcHm7AodS1gA7Q Does this mean that now they make retrofit bearings? The NAPA one looks like it has a radius to accommodate the fillet on the spindle. Has anyone gone this route? Just want to know before I start hunting for '62-'68 hubs. Thanks! __________________ "The equations never lie!" - Dr. S. Prince



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.