Outboard Drive Shaft Bearings

[CBUEB1771]

Does anyone have a cross reference to a current manufacturer for the wide race inboard bearing used on the outboard drive shaft of the +2 and later Elans? The Golden Gate Lotus Club parts cross-reference lists this as RHP 3710 BJ043 but it seems that RHP has been absorbed into the NSK group of companies. Many of the replacement bearings for this application now have no identifying markings on the inner or outer races and this is not the place I want to install a bearing of unknown provenance. I have had no luck finding a cross reference at the websites for SKF, NTN, NSK or FAG.

[robertverhey]

I think it's the same as a mk 2 cortina rear wheel bearing is that correct? Others will verify or refute I'm sure.

[rgh0]

I have an old RHP bearing that is marked 1LG30

I last bought them from SKF in a rear axle kit. That was marked KIT 2767 and was for Vauxhall Viva 1964- 67 and Toyota Corolla 1974 - 83 (Borg Warner Axle) and Holden (Izuzu) Gemini 1975-78. I have an empty skf box that I think came with the bearings in the kit marked 415662C but I cannot confirm that is the correct box or skf bearing number.

I also have one new spare from FBJ (a Japanese bearing company) with number 411546R

Hope that's of some help tracking down a replacement. If you have a sample bearing most good bearing supply places can track down a replacement from measurements of OD and ID and outer and inner race thickesses and offset

cheers
Rohan

[CBUEB1771]

Rohan,
Thanks, that is more than enough to at least restart my search. I have a new one which seems to be nominally correct on dimensions (62 mm outer race OD, 30 mm inner race ID, 21 mm outer race width, 24 mm inner race width, offset all to the outboard side, seals look OK for the application). It is just that the new one has no markings, came in a bag with no markings and has some dodgy metal finishing on the faces of the inner race, hence my concern. I've got two earlier examples still in the +2 that I installed about 100K miles and many years ago. I was just hoping to have good replacements before I take the rear end apart. Thanks again, I'll post again when I find something solid.

[CBUEB1771]

I have finally had some luck. Dave Bean stocks a bearing from SKF, part number 361964, which seems to be a proper replacement. This bearing only requires some shaving of the inboard seal so that the metal dust shield will seat properly. This modification has been noted in several previous posts here regarding this bearing. However even this bearing seems to be an obsolete item that does not appear currently on SKF's web site or online catalogues. The SKF number that Rohan provided is also obsolete but seems to have been correct at some time in the past.

[snowyelan]

I contacted the local bearing supplier, looks like delivery on the above skf bearing is tentatively November 2015 with a 6 wk delivery after that. I guess there is a production run planned...eventually.