How to tell difference between early and late A spindles?

[58A - 71E]

Anyone? Just stripped the front suspension and found a right barstewardised bag of bits , my suspicion is it has early ones but found both types of outer bearings i.e. ball and roller so not sure whats going on
Cheers

[Lightweight_911]

It's a long time since I did any work on a 356 but from memory the earlier models had 2 nuts (with a lock washer in between) to adjust the wheel bearings whereas the later models had a 'clampnut' (with a machine screw through it to lock it in position after adjusting the bearings).

[58A - 71E]

Thanks Andy, that makes sense with PET. I read in Elfrink that it was some time in '59 that the change took place, therefore would expect early ones on the car. Its the bearings that threw me, anyone know if you can use later bearings on early spindles with the two nuts instead of the clamping nut? (cos thats the ones I've bought )

[roy mawbey]

James, Andy is correct the late 356A like my 1959 has the small single clamping nut ( allen screw locking ) that rests against a flat steel thrust washer which should only just move laterally when the clamping nut is tight to give the correct bearing clearance.

The axle spindle dimensions are different for the 356 and 356earlyA to the later "A". For example the inner bearing axle shaft diameter can vary from 25.005 - 24.996mm to 30.000 -29.984mm depending on model. Likewise the outer bearing diameter can vary between 19.993 -19.984mm to 19.993 -19.980mm

The bearings on the early "A" were both ball bearings for both inner and outer. However the late "A" has roller bearings for both inner and outer.

If you look at www.stoddard.com and then on the 356 parts ( front suspension and steering section) you will see drawings of the Axle spindles and descriptions of the bearings to use.

One thing they don't mention is which axle is the early "A" and which axle is the late "A"

Not to confuse, but "C" cars have different number roller bearings to A and B cars.

Have a look and ask the question which bearing to order once you have measured your shaft bearing diameters.

Roy

[roy mawbey]

James,

Just found out some info for you. If you measure the axle shaft inner bearing diameter and its 25.005 to 24.996 then it will take the angular contact ball bearing as for 356 and 356early A cars. (The larger 30.000
diameter shaft bearing diameter is for late A and B cars.)

Roy

[58A - 71E]

Thanks for that Roy, the diameter of the shafts on my spindles goes from 25mm to 20mm, the bearings I have are 30 and 20 , so I'll use the outers that I've already bought and get some new inners (and of course they're 3x the price )

So I guess the answer to my original question is that the difference can only be determined by measuring the shaft (25mm for early and 30mm for late) and they have a different clamp/nut fastening arrangement

[roy mawbey]

James,

Be careful, if the 20mm bearings ( bore size ) you intend to use are the "later A" version roller bearing type then you are mixing ball and roller together. I am not sure that you should do that. I would ask a quick question to Mike at PRS on that. I am sure he would just say yes or no.

Of course if the bearings you have are "ball" then its fine.

Roy

[Mick]

James
Have some new front wheel bearings spare from my rebuild.
if interested contact me(will need to check sizes etc)As you kow my car is a B built in dec1959/jan 1960
Sorry have had a look and have 4 inners and 4 outers but they are 20mm and 30mm taper rollers Could have seals let me know sizes.

Mick

[58A - 71E]

Thanks Roy (again) and Mick

I've got the seals thanks, but looks like I'm getting a set of both bearings

[john fletcher]

James,
I've still got my original angular contact bearings because I upgraded to the later spindles and if you want them you can gladly have them. The principle difference in the two designs is that they increased the diameter of the spindle for strength reasons. At the same time they went to the taper roller design.
There were incidents of failures with the slimmer spindles the most notable being that of the Motor Sport correspondent Dennis Jenkinson who lost a front wheel of his A in the Alps.

John

[58A - 71E]

Thanks for the offer John, unfortunately I've already ordered (and paid for) new ones, which I'm hoping will last as well as the old ones - so should see my ownership out