wheel bearings

Haven't seen Dick's conversion- he lives on a different coast than i.... But I did convert my rear uprights to tapered rollers a while back, described in a POCA newsletter article, then I wrote a 3000 mile update a year later. Since then, I've seen one other done the way I did, which adds real, waterproof axle seals. But my axle-nut locking method is unique, I think. Incidently, all the commercial methods also work as far as replacing the stock ball bearings with tapered roller bearings, but some have had a few issues with water leakage etc. And they all require a milling machine to open the inboard bore for std bearings & seals. This is not an especially unusual conversion, BTW- I'm told that virtually every Lotus Europa still running, originally supplied with ball bearings on the rear, have been converted to tapered rollers in much the same ways.

Jack thanks for your reply. Can you tell me where I can find your original artical. I would like to change my rear wheel bearings. thanks Paul..

Another option would be to ship your uprights to Dennis Quella at Pantera Performance Center in Castle Rock, Colorado and have them done.
Phone number is (303) 660-9897

My conversion article was written in August '98, with a 3000-mile follow-up article in June '99 of the POCA newsletter. Back issues are available from Asa Jay Lawton who runs the POCA Store in Spokane, Washington (www.panteraclub.com/store/storefront.html) It includes a parts list with dimensions. As I mentioned, there are serious seal problems with some commercial conversions- the added seals which were designed to squeeze a shaft to effect the sealing, are instead used at right angles against the face of the inner race of the bearing. In this position, the seal lip is so lightly loaded, that rainwater is not kept out of the assembly, so the bearings rust. In my conversion, seals run on shafts as they should and no leakage problems occur (to date anyway).

Great!!!! thats what I wanted to hear. Jack, (and you other guys) are great friends. I will order those back issues and try and duplucate your efforts.

You could also go the Swedish way! www.detomaso.nu/pdf/990724-lagerkonvertering.pdf

PI has printed an English translation but I think you will get the idea from the Swedish article.

The author is Tomas(o) Gunnarsson, "teknik@detomaso.nu".

/Bjorn Carlsson