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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Wheel bearings

Hello all.

I am refreshing my front brakes with new callipers, disks & pads. I note from the archive its possible that the wheel bearings may have to be replaced when the hub comes off. So, I am planning to replace the bearings too.

looking at the archive for bearings I see there is a lot of comment about quality of new bearings from many sources & some suggest roller bearings. Roller bearings should I believe require some machining of the hub to ensure the spacer can be retained.

In my circumstances I think I will keep to ball bearings. From Moss or Sussex Classics it looks like i'd be paying about £40.00 for both sides - which seems cheap to me.

Can someone suggest the best source & what to ask for please? Thanks.

Gavin.


Gavin Rowles

The majority opinion is that bearings should be replaced if they split (the outer race comes off and the balls fall out). I don't think, however, that this opinion is based on any "facts", just good practice.

But, if there is no play in your bearings (I'm sure someone said, if properly lubricated they should outlive the car) you can get the hub off without splitting and damaging them. I managed to get the hubs off both sides of my car without splitting the bearings using a cheapo draper hub puller from ebay and being very gentle!

Alternativly, new bearings are about £30 each for the 'proper' ones.

Cheers,
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

I did mine last year and one side I replaced with the cheap new ones and the other side I kept the original ones. The new ones were much narrower than the originals but seemed to fit ok, the ones I left in had split but looked fine on inspection so I put them back together. I have put 500 (very) hard sprint miles on them with sticky tyres and when I checked them the other day they were both spot on. I'd take them apart, inspect them and if they look ok I'd re-pack with grease and re-use them.
John Payne

I thought I had replied to this thread but it doesn't show :-(
Sorry if this is a repeat.

I have bearings on order as I'll be putting on new calipers and discs shortly.
Being a 73 midget....will I have ball bearings or roller bearings in front?

Thanks
Matthew T

Should have ball bearings.
Andrew F

I used these for my inner bearings.

http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/p554005/34/LJT25+Angualar+Contact+Special+Ball+Bearing+25x52x15mm/product_info.html

They are sold as the proper part number 34LJT25... But when they turned up they were stamped 73205. That said they did have the correct, large radius and they have been installed and appear to work just fine with no play so I am happy.

There are photos in the depths of the archives somewhere of me measuring the radius on them!

Cheers,
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier


Thanks all - I'm on it.
Gavin Rowles

This thread was discussed between 27/02/2012 and 29/02/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.