Trying to locate new axle bearings and seals for 1961 Valiant with 7.25 inch ring gear. Have not had any luck in locating these items at local auto parts vendors............Thanks!

byrd@ldd.net

I checked Autozone's online catalog <A HREF="http://www.autozone.com">www.autozone.com</A> and they list a part number but they don't carry it. Timken # RW206CCR. Maybe a bearing place like Berry Bearing or Bearing Headquarters would have it.


aschumers@aol.com

The 7 1/4 used 3 different axle bearing sizes over the years, the 60-62 (some spilled into 63) were real small and are trouble. (hard to find and ware-out fast)

The long term fix is to swap-in a 64-72, 7 1/4 rear end assy. which has larger and available axle bearings. Note that the 73 and later 7 1/4 have the biggest axle bearing BUT it also has the 5 on 4 1/2 "Big Lug" bolt pattern.

Dennis has the "low buck" fix, keep searching for the needed bearing, I do have a few used ones as a "just get it running" last resort. (they make some noise but all the balls are still round!)

I show some additional bearing numbers to help your search:
RW206FFR
RW206CCR
D88506FR (New Departure brand number)
Good Luck, keep searching around, they are out there.
DD

Doug,
The 73-76 cars also came with the 5 on 4" bolt pattern on 4-wheel drum brake equiped cars. Both my 75 and 76 Valiants came with 4-wheel drum brakes and 5 on 4" pattern.
Craig


cfield@ll.net

Yup, Mopar must have had a bunch of the 5 on 4 stuff in the system because they continued to use it on SL6 cars untill 76. (V8 cars got the big lug set-up)
After they dropped the Dart Valiant models, everything was 5 on 4 1/2.
DD

didn't it work this way?:

73-76 disc cars were 5x4.5" and all had 8-1/4"s (which were all 5x4.5")

73-76 cars that were front drum, either 10x2.5"
or 9" were all 5x4" and all had 7-1/4"s

76 model cars built post Federal disc brake mandate (required that all cars be equipped with disc brakes) came with 4x4.5" with BOTH 7-1/4" and 8-1/4" rears. the 7-1/4"s with 5x4.5" used different wheel bearings and retains (thus the axles can't be swapped into earlier housings...)

as a result, no 7-1/4" came with 5x4.5" axles prior to 1976.

is this correct? thats what I've come to understand...


doug@autohobbydigest.com

Sorry folks, but I have a friend with a '74 Dart Swinger, 318 2V, with front discs AND 7.25" rear, with the 4.5" bolt pattern. Go figure...

Lou

madsenl@caltech.edu

Yes I believe you. I also had a 1975 Dart Swinger I parted out some years ago. Factory slant 6 and disc brakes and 7 1/4 rear axle and 5 x 4.5" pattern


cfield@ll.net

I have had several 318 cars with 7.25 axles in them. My 73 duster came that way. I also have seen slant 8.25 cars( usually std)

I could be wrong but frt drums got you the small bolt pattern discs got you lrg. It has more to do with brakes than the motor! Pain in the ass to convert a 7.25 to something bigger smaller axle tubes!

Sandy in Nova Scotia

70 duster
70 chrysler 300 2dr htp
72 d-100 swb adventurer
72vh aussie dodge ute
72 vh aussie charger
73 duster 340
79 l'il red express
82 ram prospector
84 regal t-type 3.8 turbo
96 grand caravan es (wife's)
98 ram SS/T



sandy.colter@ns.sympatico.ca

I just rebuilt the 7.25 in my 69 Dart. Bought kit from Randy's Ring and Pinion <A HREF="http://www.ring-pinion.com">www.ring-pinion.com</A> that included pinion bearings, carrier bearings, pinion seal, crush sleeve and nut. Price for kit was very reasonable. Axle bearings and seals I bought from a local auto parts store.


ldhale@granitecity.com