Rear Wheel Bearing Information

[LotusJoe]

The following excerpt from a website called "Dave's Pages"

 http://www.syer.net/latest.htm

If you have some time check out the above website. There is some very good information there.


All Europa rear outer wheel bearings are the same (6206).

S1/S2 rear inner wheel bearings were smaller than the outer bearing, but had a larger ID, 31mm Vs 30mm. That made it easier to install the inner bearing since is was a clearance fit over the outer shaft-journal. The 31mm ID was unusual and made sourcing parts problematic

The TC non-Spcl rear inner wheel bearing was the same (under-sized) size and capacity, but changed the ID to a common 30mm size. The made it easy to find parts, but meant that the inner bearing had to be pressed over the outer shaft-journal before being pressed onto the inner journal. A minor inconvenience more than off-set by easier sourcing.

S1/S2 Europa's can be updated to TC non-Spcl inner bearing spec by simply machining the inner shaft journal down to 30mm OD. No other changes are required.

The TC Spcl increased the rear inner wheel bearing's size and capacity by using the existing outer bearing on the inner position as well. It's a larger bearing overall, but retains the 30mm OD. Of course, it also has to be pressed on over the outer journal before being pressed onto the inner journal.

Since the TC Spcl bearing is 7mm / .2755" larger in OD and 3mm / 0.1181" wider than the smaller S1/S2/TC inner bearings, retro-fitting it to earlier cars requires hub carriers with appropriately larger inner bearing seats/pockets.

Since all the rear wheel bearings are sealed units, the inner grease seals are redundant. The serve only as glorified dust shields to keep out grit that might tear-up the bearing's seals, and not to keep grease in. Seals weren't installed in early Europa's, but were added later. When retro-fitting to early Europa's, the hub carrier (housing) must be chamfered 45 degrees x .030" around the inner bearing pocket's outer corner, to assist in fitting the seal.

Bearing, Wheel, Rear Inner, Europa S1/S2 (Renault Powered)

The S1/S2 inner bearing is a European manufactured sealed bearing similar to US made Extra-Light series single row radial, but with non-standard 31mm bore. It does not have a US made/marketed counterpart. You can turn the stub-axle/shaft's inner journal down to 30mm and use a Fafnir 9106PP (Extra Light series single row) as specified for the Europa TC (non-Special). The 9106 is commonly available over-the-counter at industrial supply and bearing supply companies.

Bore 31mm / 1.2205"
O.D. 55mm / 2.1654"
Width 13mm / 0.5118"
Lotus .......................................... 46D6003
SKF ............................................ 6006/31-2RST
? (German) ................................ 6006/31-2RST
R&M (England) .........(??)......... 1??LOS1WSRR or T??LOSTWSRR

Bearing, Wheel, Rear Inner, Europa TC (Non-Special)
Bore 30mm / 1.1811"
O.D. 55mm / 2.1654"
Width 13mm / 0.5118"
Lotus .......................................... A074D6001Z
SKF & FAG ............................... 6006-2RS
Fafnir .......................................... 9106PP
New Departure ......................... Z993L06
MRC ........................................... 106-KSZZ

Bearing, Wheel, Rear Inner, Europa TC Special and
Bearing, Wheel, Rear Outer, Europa ALL
A light series, non-filling slot, single row radial bearing with two
seals.
Bore 30mm / 1.1811"
O.D. 62mm / 2.4409"
Width 16mm / 0.6299"
Lotus .......................................... 36D6017
SKF & FAG ............................... 6206-2RS
Fafnir .......................................... 206PP
New Departure ......................... Z99506
Federal Mogul/ Bower/ BCA ... 206
MRC ........................................... 206-SZZ

Spacer, Rear Wheel Bearing, S1/S2/TC non-Spcl inclusive
Lotus .......................................... 046 D 0148Z
2.125"  /- .010 long.

Spacer, Rear Wheel Bearing, TC Special only
Lotus .......................................... A074 D 0215Z
2.000"  /- .005 long
This spacer is used on the Twin Cam Special only.

Seal, Rear Wheel Bearing, Europa S1/S2
When retro-fitting to early Europa's, the hub carrier (housing) must be
chamfered 45 degrees x .030" around the inner bearing pocket's outer corner,
to assist in fitting the seal.
Lotus .......................................... 54D0171
Gaco .......................................... IN37966
................... Spec. / Measured
Bore 41.10mm / 1.618"
O.D. 55.25mm / 2.175"
Width 8.50mm / 0.3346"

Seal, Inner, Rear Wheel Bearing, Europa TC non-Spcl
A074 D 6000Z

Seal, Inner, Rear Wheel Bearing, Europa TC Special
Lotus .......................................... A074 D 6009Z

U-joints are available with or without grease fittings. The better u-joints typically come without the fittings, but that's not an absolute. If your u-joints do have grease fittings, use them religiously. Joint life will go to pot in a hurry if they are not properly lubricated.

U-Joint, Europa TC and TC Special
Lotus ............... A074D6008Z
BAP-Geon ...... U-110
Hardy Spicer ... K5-GB161 (alias GKN)
Also used on:
Triumph ... TR-3, TR-4, TR-4A, TR-250, TR-6
Volvo ....... 164, 164E
Renault .... R4, R6, R12, R16

U-Joint, Europa S1 / S2
Lotus ............................ 46D6005 (w/ grease fittings).
Standard Triumph ....... U-150 (w/ grease fittings).
Hardy-Spicer (GKN) ... K5-GB150 (sealed/ no grease fitting)
Volvo has a similar unit that's stronger and sealed-- no grease fittings.
Neapco ........................ 1-0300 (w/ grease fitting)(strong as Spicer)
BAP-Geon ................... U-50.
Matsuba Brand (Iapco) UJ-023.
GMB of Japan (w/ grease fittings)(weak, avoid them)............................. P/N's GU-500, K5-L1, U-50.

Also fits the following: Alfa Romeo 54-70 Giulietta, 1600 Giulia, 54-70 Spyder Sprint 69-72 1750 All Austin 54-69 A30, 35, 40 ,50 ,55, 60 68-72 America with auto trans. 73-75 Marina Austin Healy 58-72 Sprite. Capri 70-72 1600 Fiat 60-74 1100/103 D, E, H, 1100R, 1200, 1500, 1600, 1800, 2100, 124 all, 125 Ford, English 53-74 All Hilman 45-72 All MG 36-75 All Except 1100 Morris 48-71 Minor Nash Metropolitan 54-63 All Triumph 59-76 Herald, GT6, Spitfire, Vitesse Volvo 56-76 All except 164 & 164E

[dakazman]

 Lotus Joe,
  This is a really good thread on bearing and seals. I would like to caution buyers of S2 inner bearings using the part number listed. Most searches come up with a 30mm  inner diameter when we need a 31mm . That part number comes up but they fail to mention that it’s the 30mm bearing.
Dakazman
 

[BDA]

Good stuff, Joe & D'man!! Thanks!

[andy harwood]

Great info! Thanks. Was the change in the inner bearing diameter due to Lotus modifying, or a Hillman production upgrade? I've never thought about it, and have never seen it referred to.

[Music City Lotus]

I turned down the shaft to 30mm, so I can use the same bearing on both sides. It's (for me, I have a lathe) the easiest solution. Also made new spacers in the process, that have the correct measurement for my hub carriers, to take out all tolerances. Now the wheel bearings last.

[lotusfanatic]

Thank you LotusJoe for the original post (and to Dakazman for resurrecting it)

Information such as this is priceless!

Mark

[Richard48Y]

Great thread but many of the part numbers appear to be out of date/NLA.

[BDA]

I posted earlier about rear hub bearings out of ignorance. Reading through some of the page about bearings for an S1 and S2, it’s not quite that simple but according to Dave Syer, the outer bearings on all Europas are the same and you only need to turn down the stub axle to use the TC (not TCS) inner bearing. See http://www.syer.net/rearbearingtech.htm

I also did some poking around Dave’s site and he had a humorous comparison between the Porsche 914 and the Europa (http://www.syer.net/europa_914_comparison.htm). I don’t necessarily agree with everything he says but I thought it was a fun read!