Differential Carrier Bearings

Hotrodvideo

Hotrodvideo

Senior Member
I just opened up my '40 Merc rear end to check out the gears, everything looked great but one of the carrier bearings has some pits in some of the rollers.

The other one is perfect and the races look great too. Should I replace that one and how easy is it to and do I need to replace the race on that side also if I replace the bearing??
 
Call me extravagant if you like, but I theorise that all the bearings in there have done the same hours, so I always tend to replace all of them. That way I know everything is brand new and [hopefully] gonna be trouble free for the rest of my life. I use this mentality whether it is wheel bearings or whatever; if one bearing in the unit is worn, I replace the lot. My opinion only, Brian
 
Bearings and races should always be replaced at the same time if longevity is the goal. I agree with the previous posters who opined that if one bearing is to be replaced, the other should be replaced as well. You'll need to build, buy or borrow a puller to remove the bearing race from the axle bell. To re-assemble, you'll need a tool to press or pull the race into its seat in the axle bell. Good luck.
 
A quick and easy way to remove the cup from the axle bell is to simply run an arc/mig weld around the cup, [of course- do not weld the cup to the housing] as the weld cools it shrinks the bearing race, which simply falls out! Brian
 
What would cause those pits? There is no water or anything in that rear except gear oil and I think it's been together since the factory put it together, it looks like the factory safety wire. If the bearings are worn, shouldn't the races be worn also?
 
If the pits are from wear/ foreign particles in the bearing, the race is also damaged. If they are rust from condensation and a long period of non use, then maybe the race is ok. It's still probably better to replace the bearing and race.
 
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