unit Bearings Replacement - service Parts - Photo 26876447

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The kits from both Dynatrac and SpynTec use readily available service parts such bearings, seals and hubs. For the pickup trucks, they retain the factory bolt pattern and the original brake rotors and calipers can be reused.

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Say "unit bearing" to most off-road enthusiasts and they'll probably cringe, even if they don't know why. In simple terms, a unit bearing is simply a non-serviceable wheel-bearing assembly. Their reputation comes from the fact that they can't be serviced, and therefore they will fail at some point. This means downtime for the vehicle, and replacing the unit bearing can be expensive.

Not all unit bearings are equal, though. The Dodge and Jeep design (shown) are retained on the axleshaft by a nut. The unit bearing is held onto the vehicle by the shaft. Although it's not too common, if the stub axle breaks, the wheel can leave the vehicle.

The Jeep unit bearing also has the dubious honor of using ball bearings instead of roller wheel bearings. While more compact, ball bearings provide considerably less contact area to distribute the load.

The Ford Super Duty unit bearing design is different in that is held together by a large nut on the back. The vehicle can be driven with a broke stub shaft or with the axleshaft removed. These also use selectable hubs, providing maximum fuel economy and reducing front axle wear.

Dynatrac and SpynTec offer conversion kits for most popular Ford Super Duty and Dodge heavy duty trucks, while SpynTec offers fixed-spindle conversions for these applications as well as Jeep Wranglers that came with unit bearings. These provide serviceable bearings and seals, locking hubs and generally stronger components compared to the unit bearing assemblies they replace.

The SpynTec spindle shown is key to its conversion kits for Dodge trucks and Jeeps. The burden of carrying the weight of the vehicle is shifted from the stub axle to the spindle. SpynTec spindles are machined from a forging and heat treated for optimum strength.

Many applications that use unit bearings also have ABS, and the tone ring that sends the signal to the ABS is part of the assembly. Both Dynatrac and SpynTec use a precision-cut ring for accurate signals. SpynTec also captures this ring in a seal, protecting it from road salt and grime.

The kits from both Dynatrac and SpynTec use readily available service parts such bearings, seals and hubs. For the pickup trucks, they retain the factory bolt pattern and the original brake rotors and calipers can be reused.

The SpynTec conversions for Jeep TJ, YJ and XJs come with a new steel hubs and forged steel spindles. They require a switch to a 5 on 5.5-inch wheel bolt pattern, and they increased the track width by 1 inch overall, both important to know when considering this upgrade. SpynTec also makes a fixed-spindle hub conversion for the extremely popular JK equipped with ABS.