Which is better? Tapered bearings or ball bearings for the front hub?

 

Um...whichever Timken uses. They are the only brand worth buying. And don't look back.

 

The best is getting a free spin kit from Dynatrac or someone. $1700 though, but gets rid of the unit bearings forever. If you stay with the unit bearings I would use SKF or Timken.

 

I can buy quite a few of the unit bearings for that 1700 bucks.... I doubt I will have to change the bearings more than once, while I own the truck.... Granted, locking front hubs would be cool....

 

Well he asked what was better. Yeah, the price keeps me away, but the lock out hubs make me fantasize about them. I had a u-joint go bad on the 95. If I could've unlocked the hubs I would've only needed a u-joint. By the time I got home it destroyed the ears on the axle shafts. Was cheaper than a wrecker I guess. So what do you think of the project truck we bought? Thanks for the link.

 

They don't make ball bearing front hubs, they would fail quickly due to weight. The front hubs use tapered roller bearings.

 

I thought so too, but after searching for a new front hub since mine failed i was surprised to see that they listed numerous front hub bearings that were ball bearing. It makes sense for 2wd, but the listing showed that some were available for4wd also. The tapered bearing is necessary for the axle and nut. Proper torque for the preload and years of problem free. It was just a curious question seeing that they showed being an option. I was already going to choose the tapered bearing. As with all meritor axles I've maintained in the last 10 years tapered is the only option.