AtomicZ

My recent track day was cut short by smoke rolling out of my left front wheel bearing.

Last time I replaced the hubs with factory parts when it was a street/track car. Now it is a dedicated track car.

Curious if the SKF are as good as the hype?

J.R.

Yes

sperkins

Absolutely worth it.

Hi Volts Z06

They are not a good idea.....they are a NECESSITY. Don't run on the track without them.

JDIllon

If it was street car! I would say don't spend the money! But since it is a track car, they are worth every penny!!! If nothing else, just for the piece of mind. JD

froggy47

For a street / track car I'd use the skf regular, for an all track car the skf upgrade/race one.

Scooter70

I put them on the front of my street/track car and think they're worth it. If you're going through the hassle of replacing them, do it once and do it right. You'll not only have to not doing it again next year but you'll have less deflection in the braking system which will result in better pedal feel, less pad taper, and less "pumping" of the caliper pistons.

Last C5

DEFINITELY!!!

RedLS1GTO

You decide...

0Anthony @ LGMotorsports

Completely agree.

FYI.

For us on one of the World Challenge cars.....closest to what you guys run on track this is what we would see time wise out of the bearings on track.

OEM GM bearings
1 weekend event (80 mins practice, 20 min qual, 50 min race) Approx 2.5 hrs track time

GM blueprinted "race" bearings
3-4 weekend events, approx 10 hrs total run time on track

SKF bearings,
28-34 hrs total run time on track

I have a little more spread on the SKF's as I would change them early if we had to run on a track like Daytona or Homestead if they already had some time on them.



Keep in mind the SKF's only fit 1997-2008 cars. If you have a 2009 or newer car you have to use a ZR1 bearing, which is a factory SKF bearing the same as what we are talking about, just with the newer wheel speed sensor to work with the bosch ABS.

crease-guard

Anthony, is it just the wheel speed sensor that is different? Or would the newer ZR1 bearings still fit your drop spindles in case future endeavors lead me to purchase a Bosch ABS system for the track?

drivinhard

Ted Marsh of the Marsh Racing/Whelen Grand Am team basically told me the same info as Anthony, he said they get amazing life out of them on their C6 GA car.

I replaced them on my car as the OEM ones died one by one, the very first one is just starting to be suspect but it was installed before the first event of 2010 I believe. You're talking a LOT of TT and racing in 4.5 yrs

varkwso

Yes. I had two hub failures at high speed on my FRC. Luckily my sons each had a failure and saved the car. Brake caliper bracket is all that kept wheel somewhat attached. Buy SKF.

0Anthony @ LGMotorsports

They would bolt up just fine....also the ZR1 uses a larger spline half shaft...

Up front same thing, again just doesn't work with the older ABS systems.



If anyone is using the Bosch motorsports ABS, we are using the ZR1 bearings with it.

NASAblue

F__K YES!!!!!!!!!!!

MazdaRob

I feel better. I just replace the OEM hubs with SKF's. Originals lasted 38K on a street car that has done some Autocross and a couple of DE's.

They were not much more than the OEM parts from Rock Auto and apparently worth it

cleanerPA

It sounds like you bought SKF brand wheel bearings, but not the ones that are being discussed here. The SKF "motorsport" bearings are basically the same bearings that are used on the C6 ZR1, but with the older Delphi ABS sensor. The ZR1 bearings have the newer '09+ Bosch ABS sensor in them.

These bearings should run you about $350-375 each, far more than the OEM wheel bearings.

racebum

how much tire are we talking before these become more or less mandatory?

ranging from pilot sport to r888 to full slick to full slick in a soft compound?

am curious if a guy can keep the cost down if he sticks to autocross and utqg 200 and harder

AtomicZ

Thanks guys. Looks like I just need to find the best place to order and get it done.

MarkDFW

I have about 12 HPDE and 17k street miles on my OEM bearings. The last 6 HPDE have been on r comps or slicks. I feel lucky the OEM hubs haven't crapped out on me yet. New bearings with arp wheel studs will be among my next mods.