AtomicMyke

Hey All, there's recently been a mix up wits my trying to track down the correct hub. As it turns out there are two types of hubs one with a smaller inner wheel bearing/spindle and one with a larger inner wheel bearings/spindles. What I would like to know is does anyone have the exact specificfictions or any light you can shed on this at all? From what I can tell the smaller is the early version and the larger is the later? Does anyone know when the cut off date was and what the correct bearing measurements are for each? And info at all is appreciated. Thanks!

Charlie Jones

According to the 1972 Olds parts book , the spindles ( and presumably hubs and bearings ) can be identified by a number stamped on the steering knuckles (spindles) .
First type will be stamped 386038 or 386039.
Second type will be stamped 390696 or 390697 .
Hope this helps .

joe_padavano

The spindle and hub with the smaller bearings is for the Jetstar 88 ONLY. All other 1965 Eighty Eights and Ninety Eights (and Starfire and Jetstar I) use the larger bearings. The small bearings are the ones used on the A-body cars. The J88 used the hubs and brakes from the Cutlass line.

Note, by the way, that the hubs with the small bearings have the 5 x 4.75" wheel bolt circle. The others have the 5 x 5" bolt circle.

AtomicMyke

So then I Am Able to used a hub and drum from either a Jetstar 88 or a Cutlass as I am in seach of one with the smallet bearing? Do you happen to have the correct size of the Jetstar/Cutlass bearing? that way I can compare it to the one that I have? Also how possible is it that someone swapped out the spindles to cutlass or Jetstar spindles?

Charlie Jones

Joe,
Check the 1972 Olds parts book (available at "wild about cars")
Check the notes in group 6.020 and 5.809.
I think you will find the information you posted was wrong.

AtomicMyke

So then I was in fect correct about there being earlier and later variants?

Charlie Jones

Yes. The Cutlass and Jetstar 88 hubs are completely different from what you need.
The parts book shows late 65 to 69 , except F-85 and Jetstar 88 , as being the same except for some 66 models (5200).
You may wind up changing the spindles , hubs and drums over to these later parts if you can't find an early 65 hub.

AtomicMyke

What All Does Swapping the spindles out entail on these cars?

Charlie Jones

First I would put some effort into finding the right hub .
If not , then you will need a coil spring compressor to hold the spring and a ball joint separator. Both of these can be borrowed from O'Reilly's (with a deposit).
If the ball joints are worn , and or the rubber boots are torn then you MAW replace them at this time. Same with the control arm bushings.
Get a 65 Olds shop manual , if you don't have one , it will make life easier when you do this job.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...anual&_sacat=0

AtomicMyke

That's Just The Problem, I've been searching for nearly two month trying to find the right hub, I've already bent sent a late hub mistaken for an early hub twice now

Charlie Jones

Myke,
Just to make sure that I'm barking up the right tree, do me a favor.
Look under the hood on the firewall for the Fisher Body tag. Please post the style or ST number. Should be like 65-XXXXX
Thanks

AtomicMyke

the Style Number is 65-35897

Charlie Jones

"That does not compute" no such number listed .
Are you sure it's not 65-35837 ?

joe_padavano

That information is not correct. All 1964-66 J88s use the 5 x 4.75" bolt pattern and 9.5" x 2.5" drum brakes. The hubs, brake drums, wheel bearings, and brake shoes interchange with those on A-body cars. The J88s and all Cutlii use the A2 outer wheel bearing with the 0.750" ID and the A6 inner bearing with the 1.250" ID.

Every other full size Olds from 1963-1970 used the 5 x 5" bolt pattern and 11" x 2" (or sometimes wider) drum brakes. The outer wheel bearings are A3 with the 0.8437" ID and the inner wheel bearings are A5 with the 1.3750" ID.

I will also point out that the 5200 series WAS the Jetstar 88 in the 1965-66 model years.

AtomicMyke

Yes My Apologies, the Number Was 65-35837

AtomicMyke

However I just measure the outer bearing of the correct hub and the ID of it is .75" and the diameter of the. however, the drum diameter (on the inside of course) is 11" I also noticed welding around the studs and the the back of the studs were shiny and new. As though maybe somebody welded in a new hub. Just food for thought.

Charlie Jones

I corrected my original post to exclude F-85 and Jetstar 88.
The early 65 Delta's , Dynamic's , 98's etc however did use smaller wheel bearings ,and different hubs and spindles , than late 65 to 69's.

Charlie Jones

The gosphel according to Oldsmobile;
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/membe...cting_Link.pdf
and
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/membe...rler_Shaft.pdf

Read groups 5.809, 6.020, 6.311, and 6.313 . It explains it all.

joe_padavano

Yeah, I saw all that. I'm struggling to wrap my head around it. Olds used the large wheel bearings on every full size (except J88) through 1964. What this says is that when the new 1965 full size cars were designed, they went to the smaller bearings and J88 spindles on ALL B/C-body cars. I can see the cost savings rationale of only having one set of front wheel bearings to stock, and the Chevy full size had used the smaller bearings all along, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to make the car larger (going from 64 to 65) and making the wheel bearings smaller. I suppose one could rationalize that the 425 was lighter than the 394.

Clearly this wasn't a good idea, as evidenced by the quick return to the larger bearings on all full size (again, except J88s). The first design spindles and wheel bearings would be common with J88. The hub would be different, due to the 5 x 5" bolt circle.

I am still waiting for the OP to confirm that his car does have the 5 x 5 bolt circle. I have seen J88s with Delta emblems due to a front fender replacement.

Charlie Jones

The OP's car is a Delta 88 as evidenced by the style number he posted , 65-35837 .

joe_padavano

That wasn't my question. A lot can happen to a car in half a century.