Bearing Spacers

[Matt49]

Like these:

http://store.drpperformance.com/bearing-spacer-wide-five-lw-aluminum-adjustable/

These have been out for a while and I like the idea of it but I'm having trouble convincing myself there is $200 worth of speed here. What do you all think?

[fastford]

I got 4 of these in an allotment I bought a few years back and never used them , I could never understand how they could do what they say, now the part about reducing drag and heat caused by over tightening I can understand, but if you know how to properly set the preload, I cant see where they will help on a tapered cone type bearing , maybe someone on here knows something about them ? ....

[keeks]

I think they can help extend the life of the hubs as well by evenly distributing lateral forces equally between both bearings.

[Kwoods25]

A few guys I run with have em. I don't see any need in them, but they seem to think they are worth it

[Brian Gray]

They keep the bearings loaded and hold them true in the race. Helps some with wear.

[TheJet-09]

A steel version was on my car when I bought it so I left them on there. Seems like a decent idea, but I don't know how you could measure any specific performance advantage over not having them.

[fastford]

I think they can help extend the life of the hubs as well by evenly distributing lateral forces equally between both bearings.

I would think that on a cone style brg, all the lateral force would be on the outside brg, by the way, if you preload a cone brg 5 to 8 inch lbs , at temperature , they will be close to 0 , I still cant see an advantage.

[Lizardracing]

The only person going faster is the person selling them.

Your brake pads rubbing the rotors create more friction then tapered bearings spacers eliminate. How come some one isn't making them for the rear hubs yet? Think of all the HP your could save by doing the rear and the front!

By the way....A roller bearing(non needle bearing type) had less frictional losses for those who are chasing friction.

[Lizardracing]

According to Timken bearing manufacture here are the valued torque(Nmm) for tapered roller bearings of the appropriate size

The bearing friction torque Mr = F . fm . (Dm/2)
(friction values below marked with ***)

Mr = Friction torque (Nmm)
F = Radial (or axial load) (N)
f = coefficient of friction of rolling bearing .
fm = coefficient of friction of rolling bearing based on mean diameter
d = Diameter of the bore of the bearing (Shaft diameter)(mm)
D = Outside diameter of the bearing (mm)
Dm = (d+D)/2 (mm)

These values relate to running bearings without seals and with optimum lubrication..
The start-up friction values will be higher -up to twice the values quoted below..

Single row ball bearing (radial Load) ..f = 0,0015
Angular contact ball bearing (single row) ..f = 0,0020
Angular contact ball bearing (double row) ..f = 0,0024
Self aligning ball bearing (radial load) ..f = 0,0010
Cylindrical roller bearings with cage ..f = 0,0011
Cylindrical roller bearings full complement ..f = 0,0020
Thrust ball bearing (axial load) ..f = 0,0013
Spherical roller bearing (radial Load) ..f = 0,0018
___Taper roller bearings ..f = 0,0018____
Needle roller bearings-with cage ..fm = 0,003
Needle roller ball bearings-full Complement ..fm = 0,005
Combined needle roller bearings ..fm = 0,004
Axial Needle roller ball bearings ..fm = 0,0035
Axial Cylindrical roller bearings ..fm = 0,0035

.0018 Nmm to torque= 0.0013276118686986 ft pounds.

[hpmaster]

If you make a practice reefing on your 1/2" Craftsman ratchet to set preload, as shown in the clip, you deserve to be relieved of $200.00.

[FlatTire]

Until I can flat foot my car all around the race track and use 100% of the power available to me, I don't think I'll worry about things like this! Think my money would be best spent visiting the tire man!

Here's another question to ask yourself.......in the name of fuel consumption and stringent fuel mileage standards, why aren't the automakers using these in production vehicles?

Ask the guy if he did any testing and you want to see some data.

[hpmaster]

U buy these once. Better investment than tires

Auto makers r use these basically. Unit beg r roller brg units no prescription load like a tapered brg. Same with fwd cv hubs etc. No tapered brgs. Been that way for years and years.

So if you can reduce friction with a newer/better design bearing, like the OEM car makers are doing per you, why hasn't someone developed it?

[hpmaster]

I hope your kidding with that question?

This thread is about doing the same thing via the spacers. And several places they sell roller brgs for rear hubs, I been running them also for years. They r advertised as angular contact brgs in some catalogs.

No I was thinking more along the line of a sealed unit bearing, sry if I was confused.

[FlatTire]

Stockcar, didn't realize that. Yep my truck is a 2003. No sealed bearing assemblies. Maybe wilwood should come up with a $400 sealed low-drag bearing hub assembly and sell more parts!

[Lizardracing]

It would helpful if you guys discussed facts instead of strawman arguments.

Roller bearing are a poor performer at side loading. Angular contact (aka tapered roller) bearings were designed specifically for side loading and vertical load handing like holding up the car and steering at the same time.

Sealed roller bearings have a higher coefficient of friction. See my post above for facts.

Production cars have to weigh price with performance and logetivity. Manufactures favor price and longitivity over performance. Race cars favor performance over price. Longitivity is barely considered.
Just because something isn't main stream doesn't mean it hasn't been developed. Sometimes its price, sometimes it's marketing, sometimes it's design, patents, all kinds of things have to happen for something to become main stream.