Got a quick question about hubs. Looking to replace/upgrade hubs with the SKF (see link below)

https://www.dougrippie.com/97-08-skf...wheel-bearings

Okay, so the question is this: OEM is a 30 spline for the axle on that 01' Z06 (which these are). I have Driveshaft shop 1000hp axles on the car which have a 33 spline. I looked into replacing these, rear ones, last year and talked to DS Shop about it which is how I learned the different spline count. I suggested at the time I could get a later year version of the SKF as they went to 33 spline on later models. DS Shop told me that wouldn't work as the "electronics" were different (i.e. wheel speed sensor).

Looking around this AM I came across the above link at DRM which lists the range of years from 97-08 (??). Well...how can the electronics be different if these SKF hubs will work across generations?

So, am I missing something here or was I misinformed? If there is no issue with the WS sensor then couldn't in theory put the above linked SKF hubs on the front (standard OEM replacement), then put these on the rear (see below)

https://www.dougrippie.com/c6-corvette-wheel-bearings

I believe those are the 33 spline versions. I may be wrong on this and have the wrong specific links here, but the primary question is will the later model year 33 spline versions of the SKF hubs work on an 01? Does the car care what about spline count and is the electronics in the wheel speed sensor any different from model year to model year?

Appreciate any help, clarification, correction or whatever it turns out to be.

Thanks!!!

 

It's my understanding that the C6 switched to a different ABS tone ring.

But maybe the switch happened in the middle of the C6 era? They made C6s from 05-13, so it could be that 05-08 use the C5 style and 09-13 use the newer style. That would explain the DRM page claiming that the same part number works across all years. If that's true (and I'm only guessing based on that DRM page) then the question is when they switched to 33 spline. If that happened at the same time as the ABS change then you're stuck.

If you're handy with electronics you might be able to convert the newer ABS signal into what the C5 ABS electronics expects, kinda like Lingenfelter's box that converts Gen-4 crankshaft signals to match C5 electronics... but if that's not your wheelhouse it's probably going to be a long term project.

 

The DRM page is correct, in 2009 GM changed for the ZR1 introduction and all the Z06/ZR1 came with the newer setup. The 06-08 Z SKF wheel bearing will fit the C5. I replaced mine back in 2010 with the early SKF bearings and they are still working after 20K miles of HPDE and two thousands of autocross runs.

 

It seems the 09+ cars had both the 33 spline and 30 spline axles yet the front and the 30 spline axle hubs are different than the 97-08 cars use. So, it would seem the sensor must have also changed.

Where does DSS get the hubs they sell with the axles. That's a dick move if they won't sell the hubs separately.

 

DSS sells a hub for those axles...they are just an OEM grade that has been machined, and like twice the cost of a regular OEM hub. I want to go to the SKF because I track the car and will be moving up to slicks etc. in the not too distant future. Just going to be putting so much more stress on them I wanted to upgrade to the stronger hub for all the lateral stress.

Hoping possibly there was a combination of the 30 and 33 splines that would work, but so far all my research (and answers to inquiry) are coming up that when they shifted to the 33 spline they also changed to the Bosch sensor and they are incompatible with the earlier versions.

 

What hubs do you have now? Do they work?

 

They are an OEM, not original, but OEM replacement. They work fine...I'm looking to do this on a more future preventative measure. I'm going to be replacing a number of suspension components: Mono *****, Coilovers, Camber kit, gonna replace ball joints too. Going to slicks in not too distant future so just trying to get all the components upgraded at roughly same time. Kind of a zero out on life span of a lot of that stuff too so I can keep track of how all the components wear etc.

I would be fine for a while with a fresh set of OEM hubs even once the upgrades are done, but only for a time (I mean, that is true no matter what you do...eventually they'll wear out/fail! LOL) but, I consistently pull 1-1.2g's now and fully expect that average to go into the 1.3-1.5g range. Pretty confident that will wear an OEM grade hub a lot faster than those much beefier SKF hubs. Point being it is a preventative move more than an absolute necessity, from everything I've read/heard/talked to others about going to that next level and beyond of handling capability it is a smart, even necessary eventually, move.

At the end of the day...when my money, talent, and wife let me...the car will get Aero as well. End goal is a full fledged TT car so trying to do my upgrade progression with the end goal in mind, but working under the constraints of how much $$ is available when I can make each stage of upgrades.

With this group, for lack of a better way to describe it, of upgrades the hubs kind of made sense to get done while I am tearing the corners down to the level I am.

BTW, thanks to all for responses and input...much appreciated!!

 

If you're going to be tracking the car, specially with slicks, you probably want SKF's X-Tracker hubs.
I bought mine through this vendor:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-in-stock.html
He might be able to help with your 33-spline / C5-compatible conundrum as well.

 

Thanks! Yes, I didn't say that but the X Tracker is what I'm referring to (not the OEM SKF variety). I actually talked to Joe earlier this week...he didn't think it would work with the different versions of the sensor. I have a glimmer of hope though as I also talked to another forum vendor and they seemed to think it was do-able...think they were going to ping SKF about it, just waiting to hear back. We'll see, I'm not out of options just hoping I don't have to incur extra costs by converting back to the 30 spline.

 

in the same boat. Ever hear back or have a solution?