Joe Lucia (or anyone)-----axle bearing question for 56

[Tom P.]

Joe (or anyone),
First, a little background before the question.
The 55-56 pass cars and 56 Vettes used the same rear axle bearings and they were ball bearings (RW507XX).
The 57 pass cars and 57 Vettes used the same axle bearing. They were ball bearings (RW307XX).
The 58-64 pass cars and 58-62 Vettes used the same axle bearing (RW607XX). They were ball bearings, ALTHOUGH, the Vettes with posi got roller bearings (JNR1542).

ALL 55-56 rear axle bearings that I've ever seen, and replacement bearings are ball bearings. BUT, several months ago I was installing new bearings on the axles from a customer's 55 Nomad. The bearings that were on the 55 Nomad axles were ROLLER bearings, which I have NEVER seen on any 55-56 axle. As soon as I finished installing the bearings, I looked through my old parts books. My 59 parts book was the only one which listed a ROLLER bearing for 55-56 axles!!!! Never knew that!
So Joe, here's my question (the guys over on the 55-57 forum don't seem to know). Were roller bearings ever PRODUCTION installed on ANY model of 55-56 Chevy or 56 Vette????
By the way, I understand that Autozone lists a roller bearing for the 55-56 axles.

[Joe L.]

Re: Joe Lucia (or anyone)-----axle bearing question for 56

Joe (or anyone),
First, a little background before the question.
The 55-56 pass cars and 56 Vettes used the same rear axle bearings and they were ball bearings (RW507XX).
The 57 pass cars and 57 Vettes used the same axle bearing. They were ball bearings (RW307XX).
The 58-64 pass cars and 58-62 Vettes used the same axle bearing (RW607XX). They were ball bearings, ALTHOUGH, the Vettes with posi got roller bearings (JNR1542).

ALL 55-56 rear axle bearings that I've ever seen, and replacement bearings are ball bearings. BUT, several months ago I was installing new bearings on the axles from a customer's 55 Nomad. The bearings that were on the 55 Nomad axles were ROLLER bearings, which I have NEVER seen on any 55-56 axle. As soon as I finished installing the bearings, I looked through my old parts books. My 59 parts book was the only one which listed a ROLLER bearing for 55-56 axles!!!! Never knew that!
So Joe, here's my question (the guys over on the 55-57 forum don't seem to know). Were roller bearings ever PRODUCTION installed on ANY model of 55-56 Chevy or 56 Vette????
By the way, I understand that Autozone lists a roller bearing for the 55-56 axles.

Tom-----


As far as I can determine, the roller bearings were never used for any 55-56 PRODUCTION. The bearings used for 1955-56 PRODUCTION were the GM #3729375 ball bearings.

Sometime around 1959 a roller bearing UNIT became available as SERVICE parts option for 1955-56. This UNIT was GM #7450792.

[Tom P.]

Re: Joe Lucia (or anyone)-----axle bearing question for 56

Thanks Joe, and that fits. I've been jacking with and rebuilding old Chevy stuff (engines, 4spds, rears, etc, etc) for 45+yrs. I CANNOT guess how many 55-64 axle bearings I've replaced through the years and as I mentioned, I've NEVER seen a roller bearing on a 55-56 axle (nor knew of their existance) until the guy brought me his 55 Nomad axles with roller bearings.