Question for you Rodney. Is this a limited run that we need to buy now while you have them or do you plan on keeping these going once your initial run is sold out? And thanks for doing this project and all of the other parts you provide to keep our favorite little cars on the road!
This I do not know. I had 500 made. Once they get mostly sold I'll see if this company is still in business and if they are I'll do another order. They are holding the dies. You just never know what will happen in the future. These 500 will probably last more than a few years?
------------------ Rodney Dickman
Fiero Parts And Acc's Web Page: All new web page!:www.rodneydickman.com Rodney Dickman's Fiero accessories 7604 Treeview Drive Caledonia, WI 53108 Phone/Fax (262) 835-9575
Thanks Rodney, good to know. I definitely want two of those for my 283,000 mile original bearing replacements (but who really knows if they are the originals being that I am the fourth owner!) when I do the complete front suspension overhaul sometime soon. Right now money is a little tight so it will have to wait. But two of those bearings and just about every other 88 front suspension piece you sell are on my list!
You mentioned in another thread that you might be able to put together a rubber bushing set for the '88 rear suspension. Is that project still on the table? I don't mean to hi-jack the thread but I figure the same folks will be interested in both products.
I'm going to do that bushing soon. I started on it last week. But it will take more than a few months to get some in hand. But I'm finally working on it.
------------------ Rodney Dickman
Fiero Parts And Acc's Web Page: All new web page!:www.rodneydickman.com Rodney Dickman's Fiero accessories 7604 Treeview Drive Caledonia, WI 53108 Phone/Fax (262) 835-9575
I'm going to do that bushing soon. I started on it last week. But it will take more than a few months to get some in hand. But I'm finally working on it.
Sweet! Thanks. I'll prolly end up getting at least two sets.
Got a pair of these hubs in last week. Will be going on our LeMons car, first extended race scheduled for the end of next month. Look to be good, quality parts. We have eaten a couple used hubs in the past and look to solve that point of failure with these units.
Thanks to Rodney for extending himself in sourcing these parts.
Got a pair of these hubs in last week. Will be going on our LeMons car, first extended race scheduled for the end of next month. Look to be good, quality parts. We have eaten a couple used hubs in the past and look to solve that point of failure with these units.
Thanks to Rodney for extending himself in sourcing these parts.
From what I have heard I have sold them to 3 who race. I heard back from one that the covers will in time come off so I added to my web page to watch for that or tack weld them on or something. Past that I have not heard anything which to me means there have been no problems. These are very HD. I would have to take the cover off one and count but that have a very large number of tapered bearings in them. This means each roller bearing takes only a small amount of the load. These three have used them most if not all this summer and have multiple runs on them. ------------------ Rodney Dickman
Fiero Parts And Acc's Web Page: All new web page!:www.rodneydickman.com Rodney Dickman's Fiero accessories 7604 Treeview Drive Caledonia, WI 53108 Phone/Fax (262) 835-9575
[This message has been edited by Rodney (edited 11-28-2013).]
That's what I was waiting to hear. I am on my last pair of OEM hubs and will need something in the near future for my autocrosser. Right now it's up on blocks awaiting the winter tear down and the removal of that ever elusive last few pounds of un-needed weight.
Knowing Rodney's stuff, I'm pretty sure this is one of those "no news is good news" kind of deals..
Hey, I love Rodney's stuff. I'm a satisfied customer myself.
It's the people who have tried these bearings that I'm a little disappointed in. They gotta know that the rest of us would appreciate some feedback on their experience (good or bad) with this new product.
quote
Originally posted by Patrick:
Kind of odd that there's been so little feedback. Has there been any?
From what I have heard I have sold them to 3 who race. I heard back from one that the covers will in time come off so I added to my web page to watch for that or tack weld them on or something. Past that I have not heard anything which to me means there have been no problems. These are very HD. I would have to take the cover off one and count but that have a very large number of tapered bearings in them. This means each roller bearing takes only a small amount of the load. These three have used them most if not all this summer and have multiple runs on them.
Thanks for the update! Going to order some soon for next season.
It's the people who have tried these bearings that I'm a little disappointed in. They gotta know that the rest of us would appreciate some feedback on their experience (good or bad) with this new product.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Patrick:
If there were problems with them you would be hearing all about it here. So no news I guess is good news.
------------------ Rodney Dickman
Fiero Parts And Acc's Web Page: All new web page!:www.rodneydickman.com Rodney Dickman's Fiero accessories 7604 Treeview Drive Caledonia, WI 53108 Phone/Fax (262) 835-9575
If there were problems with them you would be hearing all about it here. So no news I guess is good news.
I suppose so, but it's still a little disappointing not see even one short review by a new user for a product the ('88) Fiero community has been waiting quite a while for.
More than a few might be buying them and not installing them. Just to have a set on hand for future use.
------------------ Rodney Dickman
Fiero Parts And Acc's Web Page: All new web page!:www.rodneydickman.com Rodney Dickman's Fiero accessories 7604 Treeview Drive Caledonia, WI 53108 Phone/Fax (262) 835-9575
I have a pair on my car... unfortunately, it has rolled off the lift, onto a trailer and into my garage... not a whole lot feedback to be given. They fit nice!
I am hoping this spring I'll be back on the road with the car after I get the F23 stuff finished.
[This message has been edited by carbon (edited 12-03-2013).]
I have them on my car, but have put very little mileage on the car. I can say the critical dimensions are exactly the same as the original 88s bearings. And that they have been working just fine so far. Also, it has a nice FAT flange, which I can appreciate.
I have two bearings now, which I installed extended studs (ARP 100-7708) in. The hole has to be reamed out a bit to meet ARP's 0.005" interference fit spec for steel/iron hubs. It seems that Rodney's new hubs will accept the same studs as the stock hubs, which means you can use the same ARP 100-7708 studs or the longer Dorman 610-323 studs (which fit without reaming).
Unfortunately I forgot to loctite or tackweld the grease cover on as Rodney suggested for track use. The cover came loose during a weekend at the track. I'm running 200 treadwear summer tires. It's probably heat from braking that makes the covers loosen up, rather than distortion from cornering. I don't have much grip up front. Despite the cover coming off and the bearing grease being replaced with rocks, dirt, and brake dust, the bearing lasted the rest of the weekend and the drive home, and with the grit removed and fresh grease in it, I'll probably keep it as a backup. It doesn't have any play in it. Nice durability!
Anyway, I tackwelded the cover on my second hub so it doesn't suffer the same fate, and ordered a new hub to replace the one that got dirt in it. It may be possible to use a retaining compound rather than tackwelding. The original GM hubs used some kind of orange retaining compound. However, that would require popping the cover off, whereas tackwelding just required brushing off the zinc coating and zapping it with a TIG torch.
I'll post updates here later in the year when I have more track hours on the hubs.
Unfortunately I burned up a brand new Rodney Dickman bearing last weekend at the track. :-( It started the weekend brand new, and after about 50 laps later it had about 0.1mm of play and some metal powder mixed with the grease (I took the cover off to inspect). I still have one more brand new bearing to try, but it seems these may not be OK for track use under high G, high speed cornering conditions (~1.2 Gs at 90 mph).
Note that I did still drive 120 miles home on the bearing without any issues, and I'll still drive it around on this bearing (limited street use, no autox or track) until my next track day when I'll put on the new one. The bearings are probably strong enough for street use, but may not suitable for the race track. I'll post another update here about how the new one holds up. I'll try to check it after each session to see what's happening. Also I'm not sure how long the original GM wheel bearings last but I have play in all of mine by now. Even the GM parts may not last more than a few track weekends.
I'm curious about what the other racers are doing. Racetrack speeds, tire compound, etc..
[This message has been edited by Steven Snyder (edited 06-06-2014).]
Been racing and autocrossing my 88 formula for the last 12 years. Do about 2 track days a year here in CT and PA. 12+ autocross' per season as well. Tried the Fiero Store bearings when they were first offered and they were toasted after 1 track day. Fortunately Bob Parker (Kick Hill Farm) has been able to scrounge up a few original bearings for me over the past few years and I have 4 in inventory. They normally last me 2-3 seasons before I need to change them out. car is totally gutted and my own custom built coil overs at each corner, Running R comps (Kuhmo V710 mostly but just switched to Hancook Ventus 214) Curb weight is 2240# Don't know what to do when these run out???????????? May have to build that too Getting a bit tiring having to conjure up and re-engineering all this stuff from time to time
Brake heat will heat bearings and disk brakes are well know for that. AutoX etc get more bearing heat and brake heat to deal with.
Racing could heat Trap air and grease expand enough to blow the cap.
Is common to blow off bearing caps or seal or leaking grease in normal spindles because of air/grease expansion. Extra Grease because many think more grease is always better does same thing and worse, can cause brake problem if grease runs and contaminate brake parts.
Maybe Drilling a very small hole in center of the cap to vent air can help fixing that for race use but doing that for street use can let water/dirt in the bearings. Bearing won't last long when that happens. Hopefully Street use likely won't have heat expansion issues.
Note that Most Companies void warranty for parts used for racing. Many will void any warranty for commercial use.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
I was one of those that bought the new bearings ahead of time a little over a year ago. I don't race, but don't baby the car either. The bearings only have 1000 miles on them since I don't drive the Fiero a lot. So far no problems and as others have said I don't expect any.
This guy just don';t like me and he found another place to get to me. I always thought he was Chris Wests son. Chris Wests kid used to be on the forum. At one point he went away and this name showed up soon after. sardonyx247 Having dealt with Chris Wests kid who does not like me this sardonyx247 seems to be that same guy. So sardonyx247 are you Chris Wests son??
------------------ Rodney Dickman
Fiero Parts And Acc's Web Page: All new web page!:www.rodneydickman.com Rodney Dickman's Fiero accessories 7604 Treeview Drive Caledonia, WI 53108 Phone/Fax (262) 835-9575
This guy just don';t like me and he found another place to get to me. I always thought he was Chris Wests son. Chris Wests kid used to be on the forum. At one point he went away and this name showed up soon after. sardonyx247 Having dealt with Chris Wests kid who does not like me this sardonyx247 seems to be that same guy. So sardonyx247 are you Chris Wests son??
LOL you called me West's son before, I told you then that I wasn't.
Why does this question get to you, do low quality chinese parts bother you too?
It is a viable question to ask if they are made in china.
Why are you avoiding the question?
quote
Originally posted by mitchjl22:
Just wondering.... why does it matter? Are you going to buy the 88' front bearings somewhere else?
-Mitch
And where will I buy 88 front hubs? The Fiero store hubs, from eBearing, are made in the USA. Why does it matter, I don't like seeing US jobs sent to china, sweat shops probably, and low quality parts. When your wheel falls off and kills someone you love and care about, due to low quality parts, does it matter?
Besides rodney aren't you afraid of being sued when a bearing fails and causes a crash?
Has there been any? 
