beam tube advice..

[eskimogod]

need some advice on the beam i've just stripped is the tube ok to use again? no expert on these atall first one ive taken fully apart!

[Janne L]

I'd say its not reusable with standard roller bearings, could be saved with bronze bearings though.

[eskimogod]

I'd say its not reusable with standard roller bearings, could be saved with bronze bearings though.

Not what I wanted to hear lol

Tell me more about bronze bearings pros and cons to them?

[bashbarnard]

Never heard of bronze bearings being used before. Id like to hear more to.

[Daniel306]

Its a phosphor bronze bush. Anyway, that tube looks fine, sand out any high points from the scratches and push the new bearing in

[MCH]

bronze bushes are not readily available though are they? I'd be interested in some if they were...

[DeeTurbo]

They look fine to me to. If the new bearings fit without any gaps it'll be fine.

[pug306driver]

while its apart, any easy way/convienient way of fitting a grease nipple/nipples

[DeeTurbo]

There is no point in fitting nipples.

As long as the seals are good you and you set them up right you won't get any problems.

My beam had done over 300k mile and it was only when I notice the seals had split did I start getting issues.

[Stef205]

I can tell you from my beam building experience i developed a tube for a customer where the tube was chopped in 2 places just after the inner bearings and capped off, the tube was then welded back together and then each bearing was given a grease nipple. The axle its self lasted no longer than a ordinary axle. Needle bearings arent grease dependent, from what ive found over the years is the main reasoning for failing axles is badly manufactured trailing arm shafts and badly installed bearings, cheap seals and ovalled tubes. I have had a few dead tubes machined and then sleeved but for the effort and cost it takes id rather use another good tube.

[miles]

Seen loads with grease nipples in and it just fills the tube up with grease as the bearings are sealed or run so tightly so to speak on the arm no grease can enter anyway, the only thing it did was make the ARB come out with ease, the tube and arms where all still scrap, Having cars stood around doesn't help either

[ConorTRG]

I filled mine with grease and put a couple of nipples in aswell, must take it apart some time to see how it held up.

[pug306driver]

my thinking was if the tube etc was full of grease then no water would get in, the real enemy.....seen many a mini etc with the trailing arms buggered and full of water, they had a nipple ( of an owner in there case ) with needle roller bearing and seal etc .......the bronze bush idea would benefit from a nipple or 2.........