8.8 in an FSB question

[goinpostal2009]

Soooo sorry for this question as I'm sure it's been covered before. If it has would someone direct me to the posts covering my question.

How can I tell what size axle bearing my 1985 FSB has without pulling the axle?

It's not I can't do the work I just don't have the time nor the room. Since I don't work at a shop anymore I unfortunately don't have access to a lift.

Will the size of the shoes/drums tell me what size bearings I need? I've mainly worked on 8.8s in 'Stangs or Explorers and not in any Broncos. I'm getting some new shoes mounted in the next few days so I'll pull a drum off and since I'm going to have the front and rear brakes done soon I'll need to measure and see what size shoes/drums I'll need anyway.

Thanks to all for an answer.

 

[nelbur]

If your '85 is like my '86, Changing the wheel bearing is no small job. There is no inner race, as the bearing rollers run on the axle, and if the bearing is messed up, the axle is also likely messed up. There are aftermarket offset bearings available which run on a different place on the axle and they use their own seal. The axle must be pulled to install the bearing, and the diff. must be opened up to pull the clip to release the axle. No fun. The correct bearing or offset bearing can be ordered from your local parts store using your vehicle info or the info on the tag under one of the bolts on your rear end.

 

[goinpostal2009]

If your '85 is like my '86, Changing the wheel bearing is no small job. There is no inner race, as the bearing rollers run on the axle, and if the bearing is messed up, the axle is also likely messed up. There are aftermarket offset bearings available which run on a different place on the axle and they use their own seal. The axle must be pulled to install the bearing, and the diff. must be opened up to pull the clip to release the axle. No fun. The correct bearing or offset bearing can be ordered from your local parts store using your vehicle info or the info on the tag under one of the bolts on your rear end.

Thanks.

I've got an axle seal leaking on one side so I thought I'd change the bearings and seals on both sides then and not later avoiding having to pull the diff cover off a second time,pull the C clips out,etc,etc....then put it all back together again.

 

[Elmo]

I always change the bearings and seals together since if the seal is leaking then there probably is excessive wear on the bearing and as mentioned above the axel may very have an ever so slight groove worn where the bearing rides, requiring an offset bearing or replacing the axel. There is not any difference between the explorer/stang 8.8 and the 8.8 in the bronco except axel length and bearing diameter. But Im sure you already know all this. mainly the numbers on the tag undere the bolt on the cover will tell which bearing size you need. But if I recall corectly last time I replaced mine the guy that I get my parts from didnt ask for them. But then he has been running his own parts buisness for the last 30 years, one of the last NON-chain stores around. He is a part number encylopedia, it really amazint the difference between him and some of the people at the zone when it comes to getting the right part the first time.