Lowest fiction 9" Diff bearings

Fatman · 06-15-2025, 09:39 AM

Can anyone recommend a set of low friction bearings for a 9'? R&P and carrier bearings please. Thanks.

SSDiv6 · 06-15-2025, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatman

Can anyone recommend a set of low friction bearings for a 9'? R&P and carrier bearings please. Thanks.

The lowest friction bearings are Ceramic.

Performance Bearing
http:https://www.performancebearing.com///

Also, Mark Williams and Strange offers Ceramic bearings.

A lower cost option is MicroBlue coated bearings.
http://www.microblueracing.com/index.html

Woodfin · 06-15-2025, 02:43 PM

Fatman,

My Son and I have experimented with such things, including ceramic bearings. We did not see any measurable difference.

The key in my experience is a very light pre-load with both pinion and side bearings. With the pinion bearings, use a solid crush sleeve kit and select a shim stack that only provides slight pre-load. [it will mean taking it apart several times to sneak up on it.]

With the side bearings, use a spanner wrench so you can get a good feel for the clearance. Have each side just snug then go to the next hole that will catch the holding tabs.

Once the assembly is complete, it should be very easy to turn. It should be able to easily turn with the ring gear. Also, you will notice the car will be very easy to push.

james schaechter · 06-18-2025, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatman

Can anyone recommend a set of low friction bearings for a 9'? R&P and carrier bearings please. Thanks.

Wayne Henderson at Indy Gear is a trusted and experienced source
.
My personal experience is that there was more e t switching to a Gleason Gear set up and zero drag brakes than there was with the ceramics.

Ceramics are good in many applications not all. Most guys that say they don?t help probably are hitting a drag downstream from them. That being said, they are not magic. Don?t do this type of change first, do the bigger impact stuff then consider ceramics.

My 2 cents anyway

06-15-2025, 09:39 AM	#1
Fatman Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: near Phialdelphia, PA Posts: 22 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Lowest fiction 9" Diff bearings Can anyone recommend a set of low friction bearings for a 9'? R&P and carrier bearings please. Thanks.

06-15-2025, 02:43 PM	#3
Woodfin Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilgore TX Posts: 523 Likes: 8 Liked 243 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Lowest fiction 9" Diff bearings Fatman, My Son and I have experimented with such things, including ceramic bearings. We did not see any measurable difference. The key in my experience is a very light pre-load with both pinion and side bearings. With the pinion bearings, use a solid crush sleeve kit and select a shim stack that only provides slight pre-load. [it will mean taking it apart several times to sneak up on it.] With the side bearings, use a spanner wrench so you can get a good feel for the clearance. Have each side just snug then go to the next hole that will catch the holding tabs. Once the assembly is complete, it should be very easy to turn. It should be able to easily turn with the ring gear. Also, you will notice the car will be very easy to push.