rear wheel bearings

[MACCA.GLM]

Hi All

Can anyone give me the numbers of the rear wheel bearings on an Elan Sprint I need to prepare for a total rear end rebuild

Thanks

\G

[ceejay]

Just take the old one's to industrial bearing shop, they will have them and at less cost than bearing in Lotus branded box. I live in an Aussie country region and the local bearing shop pretty much supply most Ball/roller bearings on the Elan.

[2cams70]

I think this topic has been covered before on this forum. I believe they are the same as Ford Escort rear wheel bearings. It’s not a standard series roller bearing but one special to automotive rear wheel bearing application. There were a couple of 1970’s RWD vehicles using the same bearing (Morris Marina and Toyota Corolla from memory)

[cliveyboy]

From memory
The outer ones are standard Type 6206 with RS or RZ at the end to denote they are sealed.
Inner bore 30mm
Outer diameter 62mm
width 16mm.
The inner ones are specials with an extended inner ring, still keeping the 30mm bore and 62mm outer.
(Not sure about width)
Clive

[fatboyoz]

Hi G,
Outer bearings are 6206-2RS. Two required.
https://www.skf.com/au/products/rolling ... -6206-2RS1

Inner bearings: 361964-SKF or 415662B SKF. Two required.

https://www.bearingkits.co.uk/SKF-Ford- ... tc/582.htm

Here is a previous discussion:

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=32763&start=

Also, the inners have metal dust shields on the diff’ side. These should already be in place unless they have previously been discarded.
You may also need new circlips.

These bearings can be purchased cheap, or not so cheap. Considering the work involved, I would fit the best bearings I could buy.
All this from memory, as I am away from home. Others, I am sure, will chime in.

Cheers,
Colin.










quote="MACCA.GLM"]Hi All

Can anyone give me the numbers of the rear wheel bearings on an Elan Sprint I need to prepare for a total rear end rebuild

Thanks

\G[/quote]

[2cams70]

It’s the inners then that are Ford based. I recall the number 41566 (sad but true)

[khamai]

For future reference - GGLC Parts Interchange list
https://www.gglotus.org/ggpart/elanxref.htm

Kiyoshi

[MACCA.GLM]

Thanks guys

I do have a bearing and engineering supply company so I will contact them.i am conversant with the 6206 2rs reference but not sure of the 361964 skf (double row )? roller

At the moment there is slight play in both rears but its minimum.Just hope the bearings have not spun on the driveshaft. Wheels are perfectly free.

Do the bearings have preload springs to eliminate all play or just end to end with circlips etc

Cheers

G

[RichardHawkins]

Like so many things there are counterfeit bearings being sold. When you consider the work involved to change the bearing, the cost of the bearing is often insignificant. Try to buy a recognised brand ie SKF.

Hope this helps,

Richard Hawkins

[ceejay]

FYI - A list of the worlds current and leading bearing manufacturer's.

SKF Sweden - Schaeffler Group - (FAG Germany) - Schaeffler Group
(INA Germany) - NSK Japan - KOYO Japan - NTN Japan - NMB Japan
TIMKEN USA - NACHI Japan - TORRINGTON USA.

Most popular brands found here in OZ: NSK - Timken - NTN - SKF - NACHI.
High quality brands that are available from my local bearing shop in the bush.
Have never had an issue sourcing elan front and rear wheel bearings, and also gearbox bearings.

[2cams70]

At the moment there is slight play in both rears but its minimum.Just hope the bearings have not spun on the driveshaft. Wheels are perfectly free.

Do the bearings have preload springs to eliminate all play or just end to end with circlips etc

Ball type roller bearings are supposed to have a slight amount of axial play. It's required to allow for thermal expansion. It's noise when spun and roughness that you don't want. Usually these bearings fail because of lubricant failure. The grease dries out.

[reb53]

I found the 6206 were no problem but the inner ones weren't quite as easy.
SKF reckoned they'd found them, they were horrendously expensive, and wrong.....
I did however find these, and they were correct, and a reasonable price.
Another option !

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=43054&p=377423#p377423

Ralph.

[2cams70]

I found the 6206 were no problem but the inner ones weren't quite as easy.
SKF reckoned they'd found them, they were horrendously expensive, and wrong.....
I did however find these, and they were correct, and a reasonable price.
Another option !

I've got a couple of those KFB bearings as well but I'm yet to use them. They are a bit suspect though if you google the company. Seems to be just a distribution company not a manufacturer. Looks good on the marketing side when they can say they are based in Germany. As to the bearings themselves however I suspect they are sourced from China as probably the SKF ones are as well however with the SKF's you have the oversight of a reputable company. The KFB ones look OK but that's all I can really say about them. New old stock FKC brand are also very good quality and made in Japan.

Why did you go to SKF directly? - you should have just sent an email to Bearings UK. They are very helpful and postage isn't all that expensive.

Ford Escorts use these and have a huge following. Should not be too hard to source reasonable quality bearings.

[reb53]

Possibly I now have some that are less than ideal.
However, at my age, and the number of miles I do each year I suspect they’ll see me out !
Ralph.

[2cams70]

Also I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "they were wrong"

Just thinking about this again it is possible that the Elan uses the Anglia/Cortina rear wheel bearing which is different to the Escort type especially given that the Elan was new when the Anglia/Cortina was new. It's difficult to tell just from pictures. The Anglia/Cortina type looks very similar but is narrower than the later Escort type. Need actual dimensions to confirm and unfortunately I don't have any Cortina bearings lying around - have Escort ones though.