Swing tire mount bearing?

[Hedgehog]

I've got a decent tire carrier, it's strong, decent looking, locks tight enough and is sloppy as can be. The problem is the bearing which is no bearing at all, it's just a bolt flopping around in a close enough hole. Where can I get/purchase/buy one of those great big bearings? I can do the metal work, I just need the bearing. I've looked at the wheels with a bearing already in them at Harbor Freight, but those bearings aren't tapered so I don't thing they would be able to take the multiple directions of the thrust against them. Hmmm wordy, I hope you understand what I mean. Turning thrust and uppy downey forces to contend with.

 

[Torxhead]

I would think a local industrial hardware supply would have what you are looking for.

 

[mstar]

bought mine online with the hub flange for mounting a wheel removed.Don't remember where or who.I guess you can probably find it if someone doesn't provide a link. two tapered bearings with grease zerk.Came with a extra long spindle that goes all the way thru the 2" x 4" bumper so you can weld top and bottom.Real tight ,no wobble. Mike S.

 

[tarry99]

I've got a decent tire carrier, it's strong, decent looking, locks tight enough and is sloppy as can be. The problem is the bearing which is no bearing at all, it's just a bolt flopping around in a close enough hole. Where can I get/purchase/buy one of those great big bearings? I can do the metal work, I just need the bearing. I've looked at the wheels with a bearing already in them at Harbor Freight, but those bearings aren't tapered so I don't thing they would be able to take the multiple directions of the thrust against them. Hmmm wordy, I hope you understand what I mean. Turning thrust and uppy downey forces to contend with.

Go to E-bay and search this Item number #190646889116
Competition 4X4 makes this kit..........nice stuff

 

[johnnyreb]

I got all my parts at tractor supply.

 

[hdgapeach]

I got all my parts at tractor supply.

Ditto that. Reasonable price and a couple different size spindles to choose from. They're in the trailer hardware section of the store. In the same section they'll also have replacement bearings and races.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

Go to E-bay and search this Item number #190646889116
Competition 4X4 makes this kit..........nice stuff

X2.. I was gonna suggest DIY 4x4 but this one seems like a better deal

 

[Hedgehog]

Thanks guys. For a successful internet search sometimes it's finding the right words for the search that is the hard part. All this has given me a start, some has been right on the money. Now I need to find a "Tractor Supply" store. They aren't as common around here as they are in other parts of the country.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

Im a big fan of DIY but would go with the ebay guy.. thats a very complete kit for a good price.

 

[johnnyreb]

try fleet and farm.

 

[jdarg]

My YJ carrier has a pair of big Heims through a big, vertical bolt, 3/4" IIRC, w/ a spacer sleeve in between. Works real nice, tight after 3-4 years (not a DD driver though), and should be quite a bit less expensive than a spindle kit.

I honestly had never seen this done before until I came across this bumper and I'm surprised more people don't go this route.

 

[Hedgehog]

Interested, got pictures? I need to look into this, Heim Joints aren't generaly inexpensive though. The real problem with the system on my Jeep is the bolt wears out the hole making slop. A heim Joint is hard surfaced along with a bearing surface, yeah I've got to do a search on this.

 

[Hedgehog]

Interesting, didn't look hard, but 3/4" are ~$14.00 each on one of the 4x4 sites.

 

[tarry99]

Interesting, didn't look hard, but 3/4" are ~$14.00 each on one of the 4x4 sites.

I think the use of Heim joints in this application is an interesting concept........I would Imagine that Jdarg has those mounted on a bolt that is vertical?

That in itself is not how the Heim joint is designed to work........also unless those are stainless most come with a steel ball that will rust ....again not saying that it will not work.

I personally like the concept of an encased tapered roller bearing swimming in grease......once installed properly takes all the weight of the tire carrier and gas cans and tire and moves without effort. Just my Opinion.

 

[Hedgehog]

Tarry99 - Do you manufacture the ones on E-bay?

 

[tarry99]

Tarry99 - Do you manufacture the ones on E-bay?

Nope just copy them............

 

[jdarg]

I think the use of Heim joints in this application is an interesting concept........I would Imagine that Jdarg has those mounted on a bolt that is vertical?

That in itself is not how the Heim joint is designed to work........also unless those are stainless most come with a steel ball that will rust ....again not saying that it will not work.

I personally like the concept of an encased tapered roller bearing swimming in grease......once installed properly takes all the weight of the tire carrier and gas cans and tire and moves without effort. Just my Opinion.

That is correct - vertical bolt. These heims have grease fittings as well although I broke them off at one point and never replaced them. Doesn't seem to matter - these don't see much motion anyways if you think about it. Rust is not an issue and I didn't even paint the heims w/ the rest of the bumper. I'll get a photo tonight.

 

[jdarg]

Here's some photos.

Weird coincidence - I have a Jeep gas tank on the ground in both photos, even though they were taken years apart.

Love my tire carrier though. At some point I want to add some water/gas cans to it. I left enough space between the tire and the Jeep to fit them in there so it looks a little funny from the side w/out them because the tire is further back than people are used to. I carry a hi-lift and a complete spare leaf spring on there during wheeling trips as well.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb135/jdarg/YJ Build/yjrearbumper009.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb135/jdarg/100_0608.jpg

 

[Hedgehog]

Funny, I was going to pick on you about the gas tanks and the spring, but you beat me to it.

Who came up with the heim joint Idea? Do they actually hold the weight of the tire/carrier or are they there mostly to remove the sloppyness found in systems that only use a pin or bolt?

 

[jdarg]

No idea who came up with it. I actually bought it from a guy who knew another guy sort of thing. It was originally for an XJ and had sat unpainted in the guys garage for years before he decided he wasn't gonna use it. Just so happens the dimensions are perfect for a wrangler so I grabbed it for less than the steel was probably worth at the time, because it wasn't complete enough to bolt onto anything at that point. I had to weld on my own mounts on.

The heims can take the weight, along with the weight of a couple of 200-300 lb. guys too. Don't ask me how I know.

There's a strip of steel to support the swing on the bottom of the tube, but I actually have the heims adjusted so it doesn't rest on that at all. If it did it would be a bit crooked. The guy must have been a measure once type of person.) Thats another nice thing about it, you can adjust the angle of the swing by shortening/lengthening one heim in relation to the other.