So I'm going through all the bearings in my 25 front and 41 rear axles, deciding which to keep and which to replace.  I wondering what criteria you use to decide this.  Are there any general guidelines?

On my first pass, I'm rejecting a lot of bearings (cups and cones) from the 25, but keeping most from the 41. (I wonder if the 41 has had this done before...)  If I can keep a few more, it would help my wallet.  But if they do need to be replaced, I certainly don't mind the cost.

Thanks,

-Paul

Okay, So I have selected for replacement the following:

From the 41 Rear:
1 shaft cone
1 shaft cup
1 carrier cone
2 carrier cups

From the 25 front:
2 carrier cones
2 carrier cups
2 pinion cones
2 pinion cups
4 king pin cones
2 king pin cups (the upper one from each side)

The pictures below show parts of all of these:
41 Carrier Cone


41 Carrier Cup(s)


41 Shaft Cone

41 Shaft Cup


25 King Pin Cone(s)




25 King Pin Cup(s)



25 Pinion Cup


25 Pinion Cone(s)



25 Carrier Cone


25 Carrier Cup(s)



The ones I haven't chosen to replace all look good, and feel smooth.  I haven't been able to look at the inner races, though.

Any comments on any of these?

-Paul

Good point Bob, I always do that and just forgot to mention that fact.

It would probably be okay to reuse the cup.... but generally cups and cones are replaced as pairs. New bearings may not be happy riding on surfaces with wear patterns set up by other bearings.

Welcome to the club!

I could have bought a fully restored jeep for what I have in the '51.....and it's not done yet....

But what fun is that?

I was always taught to keep cups and cones as sets and replace cups and cones as sets. Of course Fafnir Bearing Company was located in the town I grew up in. Their doors have been closed 20 years now. 

  Very nice detailed close up pictures by the way.
My $.02