front wheel bearings

[mr.mindless]

My machinist had some rush jobs he was working this morning, so I won't have the car back together today; I left the knuckles and a sample bearing with him.

Here are the bearing comparisons I promised. They're spaced under the lug studs to even out the wheel mounting surfaces.

90-99; Eagle; 84-89
You can see what I'd consider an "external" seal on the 84-89 bearing vs the internal on the new bearing and the separate on the Eagle hub.
You can also see the different flange height on the "new" unit bearing, which would likely require a different rotor, and add CV wear by extending it further when installed.



The total height of all three from WMS To bearing face is nearly identical:

Comparing the depth of the bearing faces between "old" and "Eagle"


Comparing the depth of the bearing faces between "new" and "Eagle"


Eagle CV compared to Jeep stub


Jeep stub sealing surface size


Eagle CV outermost sealing surface size


Sealing surface on the Jeep stub over the "old" bearing - that seal is meant to ride on the outside shoulder of the shaft with a double lip seal.



A little more comparison of the bearings
http://youtu.be/OlbgDvLrIbA

[mr.mindless]

As I said, boring out the knuckle is going to reduce the amount of material that attaches the top leg to the bearing mount, so I gusseted that point on both sides. I've read here that the knuckles are unique side to side but that sure doesn't appear to be the case; the hole for the caliper bracket exists on both ends and everything else appears to be symmetrical.

Caliper bracket and brake clearance didn't appear that it would be an issue.



Gussets tacked on


Post-heating in the oven


Finished, pre-smoothing and paint.

[mr.mindless]

ALLLLmost got this buttoned up last night but not quite.

Freshly machined from Vic at Ontario Engine and Machine


Big bore from the front side


Big bore from the back side


Nearly assembled


I trimmed the outermost dust ring off the seal after thinking it was binding on the edge but it turns out I was mistaken...

I packed the void with grease since this is making a face seal instead of a through seal. We'll see how that behaves.


On the driver side only I had a clearance issue with the CV and the steering arm. The passenger side had no such issue, I still have a little more grinding to do as it sits now.

After first disassembly


After third disassembly


After fifth disassembly


Hopefully next time I put it together gets to be the last.  I'm trying hard not to take more material than I need to.

All fresh brakes on the front, fresh shoes on the rear, and I mounted my Grizzlies too. Hopefully I'll wrap this up and then I'll just have headlights and a muffler to take care of before I bring it in for an alignment and inspection.

[captspillane]

This really is an awesome conversion. Great job in the quality of your work and the description you've posted. Eggs!

I ordered and recieved the 1992 version last time I was home. I also have a brand new pair of rotors for my 1992 XJ in stock in my garage. I went with the 1992 version because I want the extra tire width and I also hope to have less aggressive boring and grinding modifications. I'm back at work now, but next time home I'll make the measurements to confirm if they will work or not. I suspect that the rotors themselves, and only the rotors, make up the difference in height for caliper alignment. I'll confirm this and then do a similar conversion to three or four pairs of spindles I have in stock. Thanks for the inspiration!

[mr.mindless]

I'd be concerned with CV axle alignment with the newer style, unless you do something to space the axle back in - which if I recall right you'd need to do anyway with the spline style difference.

[mr.mindless]

Back on the road! New wheels; the 215 tires rub a bit. Still needs alignment, muffler, new headlights & an inspection...

[mr.mindless]

Sorry all the embedded images broke.
Here's the source album. I get a PM on this thread every couple years and the photos are probably useful.

https://www.facebook.com/michael.maskalans/media_set?set=a.732498390228&type=3

[vangremlin]

Thanks for providing the photos, they are very helpful