Spitfire & GT6 Forum

So, I was going to put this in the "What Did You Do to Your..." but I had a question, so I thought I'd ask.
I pulled apart the front hubs today (first time doing that on any car). Very straight-forward and quite happy with how it all turned out (greasy and grimy as heck, tho). I was able to repack the bearings (they, along with the races, looked good and had "Made in Germany" on them, so I doubt they were original) and cleaned everything up "good enough". The bearing grease was very soupy, very black and needed replacement.
My question comes on the felt seal. I didn't play with these too much because I don't have replacements and I didn't want to destroy anything (though I intend to go back in and replace them). However, looking at parts, what I saw today and what new parts show me were two different things.
Mine were definitely felt, but there was no metal backing, as I can see in the pictures of the parts on SpitBits (and sorta on Canley Classics). SpitBits is the only one with actual photographs, and these look like all metal in his picture (P/N GHS146). Both sides on my car were the same. You can see what I have in the picture. If I pull the felt out (which I did carefully), it is what looks like two felt rings, of different sizes (the smaller one in first), stacked together, but they seem to be one piece (may have just been gummed together pretty good, tho). Again, I didn't pull at anything because I don't have replacement parts (yet). But, again, there was no metal backing that I could identify after I pulled the felt rings out.
I've read the post on here about which way the felt goes, but with felt on both sides...not sure. I'd find it hard to believe that an entire metal "washer" ate itself and disappeared. I did notice the outer part of the felt seems to have some covering of some sort (plastic sheet or something...most of it was gone), but it definitely wasn't metal.

If someone has a pic or something (or if you know of what I am talking about), I'd appreciate it. I have no idea if these have ever been taken apart this far before, but, the bearings were new and I doubt piece of felt would survive 50 years, even if they were essentially soaked in grease that long.
There are a bunch more pictures of what I did on my blog (link below) but none that really show a better pic of the felt seal. If anyone thinks it best, I can always pull it back apart. I didn't bend the cotter pins yet on purpose .

Thanks,
Chris

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I learn something new every day...especially if I am working on my LBC!
Please visit my blog and website at http://www.roundtailrestoration.com
and my YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8LASST0WuNG0-po4hK0Maw

'Doh! Thought my photo showed them.


Felt seal goes on first, then the cup, which faces away from the bearings.

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~Hazen.

Damn you, Hazen! I really need to take photos like you and some others on here...like I want to reference it in the future or something. Anyway, you say felt seal and cup. Uh, the more I look at my pics, I think left the "cup" on there and only removed the seal. Again, I was hesitant to remove anything that wasn't obviously loose...maybe more aggressive?

Thanks,
Chris

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I learn something new every day...especially if I am working on my LBC!
Please visit my blog and website at http://www.roundtailrestoration.com
and my YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8LASST0WuNG0-po4hK0Maw

sorry. Not trying to show you up. I took for this purpose, actually. (not for you specifically-sorry) but for a reference.

Lookit this. see #17.
It shows the felt seal with the cup as one, they are, however, backwards in this diagram.

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~Hazen.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-09-26 11:57 PM by byakk0.

The metal cup and felt seal are a one piece unit with the felt glued to the metal ring. The felt is supposed to face the vertical link and the metal ring gets driven into the rotor after the bearing is in place. The felt is supposed to be greased or oiled before the rotor is installed on the spindle. It's not a grease seal, more of a dust shield.

Watch for a common problem with modern reproductions, the metal ring diameter is too large and they can't be hammered in to place. Spitfire & GT6 magazine had a tech article on this where the author suggested sawing a slit in the ring and tack-welding the ends together so that it fits better and then regluing the felt in place.

You can clean your original ring and glue a new felt to it, carefully remove the felt from a new ring. The reproduction rings just don't fit, I tried 3 different suppliers and they all sell the same seal. So, don't damage the ring taking it out, you'll need it.

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'S all for now
Vic

This is the way to go, the thin wall replacements never go in right. Cheaper too, just some felt and RTV.

I like the sound of cheap. So, just plain felt...like craft store felt?

Thanks,
Chris

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I learn something new every day...especially if I am working on my LBC!
Please visit my blog and website at http://www.roundtailrestoration.com
and my YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8LASST0WuNG0-po4hK0Maw

The higher density stuff they have at home depot for sticking to the bottom of chairs to stop them marking the floor is what i used. I actually found some where the OD was similar and just cut the center out.

Like this

Hi,
I have had good luck getting the ring out by pushing it out with the inner bearing. The bearing doesn't damage the ring
I have also found that the new felt supplied with a bearing kit is often too thick. It can be thinned before installation.
All the best,
Paul

I'll give it a try. Thanks, guys.

Chris

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I learn something new every day...especially if I am working on my LBC!
Please visit my blog and website at http://www.roundtailrestoration.com
and my YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8LASST0WuNG0-po4hK0Maw