DeTomaso Mailing List: April 98, Message #321

Kirby Schrader badly sang:

	> Hey Shane! How come you didn't just go with PPC's tapered 
	> bearing kit? Guaranteed for life!

As Mr. Spock would say, its most logical.  The previous bearings and axle
survived 26 years and 40,000 miles.  I dont drive when it rains, use
synthetic grease and am most attentive about cleaning the car, so
I would expect that the (new) stock bearings will last at least 10 years.
In that time, I hope to move to monster brakes with modified
uprights etc, which will likley undo all the effort and EXPENSE of 
installing roller bearings at this time.

To completely R&R both sides, the cost was (incl tax):
	bearings	$115
	bushings	$ 86
	paint		$  5
	lunch		$ 40 (for the troops)
	axle		$100
			----
	Total		$346

My car is not the prettiest Pantera, but it is a driver, a racecar hack
that is very slowly being developed.  I'd rather put my pennies and
labour on parts that will make an immediate difference (like brakes)
rather than worry about having to do the same job again in 10-20 years.

IMHO, unless you spend more then 50 hours on the track every year 
(like you do Kirby) and have the huge bucks (several thousands of 
dollars) required to build the ultimate rear-end 
brake/suspension/alloy-upright combo, I would suggest sticking
with stock bearings.  Besides, now that I have seen the operation
done, I can easily do it myself (albeit taking much longer).

	Shane Ingate in San Diego