Wheel Bearing Part #

I got the old bearing and races removed and I got the new outer race installed, but the inner bearings I got from Advance are too big. The part number they gave me is S-A5. Pep Boys sells the BR5 which I am assuming is the same size as the one I got from Advance. The original bearing's part number is L68149. I was under the impression that wheel bearing part numbers were always the same no matter what brand you are buying. Does anyone know the part number for the inner front wheel bearing under this different numbering system??

The 87-88 coupe takes a different bearing than a T BIRD. It has bigger brakes. I think the early ones take the same bearings as a T Bird. Not 100% sure. I have all the part numbers in my garage and can post them later. Always order the parts for a coupe not a T BIRD. Normally bearings are numbered the same or are posted on the box with the companys numbers. I just went through this on a Peter Built. The number change screwed up my bearing choice and i installed the wrong bearing last week. I found out the bearing was wrong because i got an ABS light. The hub was wobbling. The bearing was marked with an auto zone number not a timpken number. But lately it does not hold true. The numbers are all changed. Hope this helps Sir.

I have had parts stores give me the wrong bearings before. I think some data bases list the TC the same as the 3.8/5.0 Birds, which is wrong, or the people behind the counter dont listen when you tell them "TC". I seem to remember the NAPA data base lists the correct bearings.

I did some research last night and evrywhere I looked the part # listed for my 86 is the same as for an 87-88. I noticed on NAPA's website one of the bearings listed under part number L68149 stated that it was replaced by part number S-13. I went back to Advance this morning and had them to a search using the L68149 part number and they had one. the race is a seperate part number (L68111) which they also had... fortunately. I had them get one of the S-13's which comes as the bearing and race together just so i could compare. the bearing itself appears to be a match, but the race is ever so slightly smaller so I don't think I would take a chance on that one.

The correct numbers are INNER BR5 And OUTER BR 12. This is from my napa book. Remember the T BIRD is different and the early and late TC bearings are the same. Hope this helps Sir. Good luck B

Good to know, ive always had good luck with napa over many of the others, as well as a local automotive shop (but that wont help anyone out).

The BR12 is correct for the outer, but I have found that the BR-5 is the same size as the SA-5 and it is too big - at least for my application. I think it's just the number that denotes the size of the bearing and the letters are probably different for different manufacturers. It could be that the disk/hub assembly on my TC was replaced at some point and the inner bearing bore size was different. I don't know, but the SA-5/BR-5 bearing was a no go.

B may be you have a stock T Bird knuckle???? Try ordering an inner for a regular T Bird. I know the TC spindles are definately Different. Good luck sir. One thing also the struts are also different. The lower mounting flange is different. Maybe the previous owner put in a T BIRD set of struts and spindles??? Its worth a try to figure out whats going on. Do you have the old numbers on the races and bearing. Have them cross reference and that will get you the proper bearings. Good luck Sir

That's what I did this morning. The part numbers of the old bearings and races are L68149 & L68111 respectively. I went to 2 different Advance stores and each of them had one bearing and one race in stock. So I'm all set with the parts I need. Naturally it's supposed to be below freezing tonight so it looks like I'll be sitting in the wife's car with the heat on installing the races.

I'm not sure how I would go about checking if I have the original spindles or not. I need another TC to use for reference.