94 Front Wheel Bearing???
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 46
From: Elizabeth City, NC
94 Front Wheel Bearing???
Well it seems that my right front wheel bearing is in need of a replacement finally. Unfortunately it seems that 2 great sources for the bearings no longer have a listing for them. I checked both Pep Boys and Napa since they were known to carry the Chicago Rawhide/SKF bearings. Well they no longer even have a listing for the corvette front bearings/hub. Any suggestions on where to get a quality bearing now? I don't think any of us have time for the overseas made garbage, it's not worth the chance. Open to suggestions.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 46
From: Elizabeth City, NC
Just checked that www.wheelbearingsinc.com site and they have no listing for the fronts either. Not sure what is going on here. I hope this isn't an item I may have to stock up on if they are getting hard to come by? Strange at the least.
Lee
Lee
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,818
Likes: 2
From: Alive and well in Burlington NC
Believe it or not, you can use the front bearings for a 94 Firebird:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=172&TopicID=2
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=172&TopicID=2
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Originally Posted by LPDesRoche
Jim, have you tried the Timkens before? I really don't want to be the experimental guy on this one. I beat my car way to hard for that job. 
Lee
Lee
As someone else mentioned, the '94 Firebird bearings can be used. Cost is $109 for those vs $189 for the Corvette units. I have the Firebird bearings. Externally they look slightly different, but other than needing to drill out 4 holes they bolt in and function perfectly.
Here's what the two look like side-by-side (the circled holes are the ones that need to be drilled to match the Corvette hubs):
Hoosier R-compound tires and road courses...I'd say I use my car pretty hard too
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Southern CA
How much do the holes need to be enlarged?
Originally Posted by 96GS#007
They're on there now
As someone else mentioned, the '94 Firebird bearings can be used. Cost is $109 for those vs $189 for the Corvette units. I have the Firebird bearings. Externally they look slightly different, but other than needing to drill out 4 holes they bolt in and function perfectly.
Here's what the two look like side-by-side (the circled holes are the ones that need to be drilled to match the Corvette hubs):
Hoosier R-compound tires and road courses...I'd say I use my car pretty hard too ...
As someone else mentioned, the '94 Firebird bearings can be used. Cost is $109 for those vs $189 for the Corvette units. I have the Firebird bearings. Externally they look slightly different, but other than needing to drill out 4 holes they bolt in and function perfectly.
Here's what the two look like side-by-side (the circled holes are the ones that need to be drilled to match the Corvette hubs):
Hoosier R-compound tires and road courses...I'd say I use my car pretty hard too
... 
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Cumming GA
Originally Posted by 96GS#007
Autozone sells Timken. Timken is a great brand and many of the OEM bearings on the Corvette are made by them.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 475
Likes: 21
From: CLAREMONT Ca
Bearings
Originally Posted by LPDesRoche
Well it seems that my right front wheel bearing is in need of a replacement finally. Unfortunately it seems that 2 great sources for the bearings no longer have a listing for them. I checked both Pep Boys and Napa since they were known to carry the Chicago Rawhide/SKF bearings. Well they no longer even have a listing for the corvette front bearings/hub. Any suggestions on where to get a quality bearing now? I don't think any of us have time for the overseas made garbage, it's not worth the chance. Open to suggestions.
Elite Torch Red Member
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
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I talked with my buddy who own's a NAPA store. The fronts are no longer being made. GM and their never ending quest to own the world has made licensing and or patents unavailable for repro units.
Our only source as of this time are the cheap knockoffs or OEM.
Apparently GM wants a certain quality built into the part(who could blame them) and the Chinese repros don't follow the GM standard which is why they are cheaper.
Our only source as of this time are the cheap knockoffs or OEM.
Apparently GM wants a certain quality built into the part(who could blame them) and the Chinese repros don't follow the GM standard which is why they are cheaper.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Texas
Originally Posted by froggy47
How much do the holes need to be enlarged?
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Virginia
I bit the bullet and put ACDelcos from zip on mine, I figured that the original ones lasted for 175k miles, so I probably wont have to replace them again any time soon... they went on with no problem, no drilling, etc... that is one part that I wouldnt want to fail while on the road!
