opinion in this pinion ..

Talkwrench

Well-known member
For those of you that have replaced their pinion races , bearings etc does this look normal for a new one? Its has quite a "brushed " finish.
I am having a lot of problems, I know some of them are obvious , however I thought I would check about this "finish" on this one.
You will see I took a picture of a used one next to it.
 

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I would not use that race, is it from China? Can you look below the rollers in the bearing and inspect the race of the bearing as well.

Regards,

Brian
 
.....nope,it's a stinker. I'd be wary of the bearings if they came from the same source. Might be worth trying to source some here in Oz...you could try AA Bearings in Mitcham,Vic, the guy who runs it (Dennis) deals in older car bearings and seals and is a good guy to deal with. Number is 03 9874 1660.Another possibility is Automotive Surplus , just up the same road a bit from Dennis.....good luck.....
 
I would be interested in knowing where they came from. Looks like it somehow missed the last stage of the manufacturing process! That surface does not look finished.
 
Looks terrible!! Whoever sold you those bearings should refund your money. If they do not want to make this good, please let us know who it is so we can avoid buying from them..
 
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The race on the left looks in fairly good shape. If it was cleaned up and dressed a little with emery paper I would use it. Now that comment is based on a small photo online!! It may not look as good in real life. But I would sure use it before I would use the one on the right.
 
Most Asian copies of Timken bearings look like that. Timken always put a better finish on them. When you set up a preload on a bearing/cup combo like that, you have to set them up tight since they will lose preload quickly after they start burnishing the rough spots back to a smooth finish. That is, if they ever make it to a smooth finish!

Real Timkens always look like a fine cross hatch or just a smooth fine machined surface. They are not polished but they are smoother than that.
 
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Your old one next to it looks better, from the pic. If I had those two upfront of me when I was building my axle, I'd use the old one.
Like I said from the pics.
Martin.
 
He bought all his bearings from me. They are all Timken or bower u.s.a. old stock as all my parts are. no foreign parts ever here for over 45 years. this 48-4616 was in a box so marked. This was from a batch bought some 35 years ago(over 1,000 pcs) of this number from the federal government. The federal government was getting rid of all their ford parts which I bought when they went to Chrysler vehicles. Out of those 1,000 48-4616 I have a total of 15 left. there are an awful lot of these in cars going back to the heyday of the v/8 club. Fred
 
So, Fred, I guess that means the "brushed" finish is okay? I wonder what the theory was for such a apparently rough surface? If they are Timken parts, you have to assume they knew what they were doing and there must have been a reason for the finish.
 
I feel that Fred is to be commended for , off of his own bat, acknowledging on the web, that he has supplied the part in question. I doubt he has even opened the packet the race was contained in.
Slightly off topic of original poster, but I feel it had to be said.
 
I agree, Good on ya, Fred.
I would think that the box in question had been opened, though.
Hard to tell from the picture, but that race looks galled to me.
Could have been an incorrect installation traded out in that box. Those things do happen.
 
It is indeed Timken USA.
In short I became worried as I have not seen surfaces like this and the mechanic I have been going to who specialises in diffs and presses out the pinion for me said it's not normal.
I will contact Fred to resolve the issues I have.
 
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well I would love to take a picture right out of the box, but do not know how to install them. I am old school. I have used these and so have all my customers. It looks like in talkwrench's picture he has tried to scuff pad or something because at first he thought his roughness was in the bearings. I have a told him to return for a full credit so I can at least put in my cars. Which as my customers know I build quite a few cars and only with n.o.s. parts. A lot of these customers are on the fordbarn. If someone wants to help me load a picture I am all ears. Fred
 
better yet someone send me their e-mail and I will send them a picture and if they would be so kind to post on here I would be so thankful. Fred
 
Fred, I have received no email from you, I have sent you one through the Ford Barn.
I would be a careful saying that I have touched that bearing race.
If you read my emails to you will see it IS the bearings too.
 
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