F-450 Unit Bearing Hubs?

InDaShop · Oct 10, 2008

Alright, got some tech questions.

I am running the Spidertrax F-450 Unit bearing hubs. Yes they are blingity bling. They accept 35spline stubs , and standard driveslugs/flanges.
Yes they make stripping down the frontend slutty easy.
I am really needing to add a spare to the inventory, but they run $325.

Thats a lot to have in a spare that hopefully will never break, but if it does its a weekend ending break.

Now Branik just started offering the similiar/same setup. Does anyone know anyone running the Braniks?
I seriously believe they are Stock F-450 units that have been redrilled, at least thats what the Spidertrax ones look like.
Braniks are $250

Now I dont know Tracy but I do know Stan. And he's straight gangsta'. Is there some reason there is a $75 difference between these products that anyone knows of? I got to say the Braniks look to be where its going to be for me, as they are cheaper in cost. I just dont think there is anything different between the two.

BamaTJ · Oct 10, 2008

Branik just sells stuff cheaper, that is just how they role and I love it! I would love to go to a set of those cause I hate the greasy bearings so much. Droopy had a ST hub failure in Jellico, and used Stan's display model to repair it. I would go stan all the way.

InDaShop · Oct 10, 2008

Yeah they got lucky that there was a spare around. Normally you would NEVER have that luck. These things arent growing on trees, and I have yet to know anyone that has a spare.

I guess then Droopy. Whats the difference since you've got both?

Woodlee · Oct 10, 2008

Branik. heck its the spare and probably the same.

1TONZR2 · Oct 11, 2008

wow, that is a badass piece and it would make life alot easier. wouldnt have to worry about the damn spindle nuts coming loose on the trail and trashing a set of bearings and a spindle. big time fo sho :afro:

EOR MFG · Oct 11, 2008

I just grab spares from the trucks that we replace here that alot of times are not really bad. If all you need is a spare see if the dealer has a couple take offs in good shape then some real easy machining there you go.

ADAMCARTER315 · Oct 11, 2008

got about 4 used ones laying around just need to be redriled for the standard 8 lug, be good for a spare!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wngrog · Oct 11, 2008

I never heard why Kim's came apart.

I talked to the Spidertrax dudes about it at the Expo. They had not heard, so they did not know anything. The way the tire was sitting sideways, it looked like the inner spindle but backed off.

If it was a genuine Spidertrax unit, there would have been a locking roll pin on the spindle nut that would have kept this from happening.

Anyone know the scoop? I would love a used unit Adam machined out to 6 on 5.5 if you feel like having the work done. I will gladly pay for it, I just hate having a $350 spare that I may never ever need.

InDaShop · Oct 12, 2008

wngrog said:
I would love a used unit Adam machined out to 6 on 5.5 if you feel like having the work done. I will gladly pay for it, I just hate having a $350 spare that I may never ever need.

Agreed Nolen, agreed.

Adam, how much you want for one as is? I'll mill the pattern myself, that way we know its only good for a spare....

Droopy · Oct 12, 2008

wngrog said:
I never heard why Kim's came apart.

I talked to the Spidertrax dudes about it at the Expo. They had not heard, so they did not know anything. The way the tire was sitting sideways, it looked like the inner spindle but backed off.

If it was a genuine Spidertrax unit, there would have been a locking roll pin on the spindle nut that would have kept this from happening.

Anyone know the scoop? I would love a used unit Adam machined out to 6 on 5.5 if you feel like having the work done. I will gladly pay for it, I just hate having a $350 spare that I may never ever need.

Okay...I don't check this tech forum that often.

I didn't tell Spidertrax right away...it slipped my mind. I sent Tom at Spidertrax an e-mail this past week about what happened. His response was rather nice. He said that this has only happened to one other competitor (Rusty). He then told me that they changed designs over time and added that locking pin. When we ordered our stuff from Spidertrax this time last year, Tom said they were in process of the "new" design. He was not sure what part we got. But, they are going to warranty it because he feels that shouldn't happen no matter what.

Yes...we used Branik's at the event for the fourth run. It worked out great. Stan and those guys pretty much kick ass. I would buy whatever Branik's sold and trust it.
Not knocking Spidertrax. I appreciate both companies and I feel they are both straight up.

Stan will be happy to tell you their's is just a re-drilled unit bearing like you said Wyatt. You are correct with that assumption.

afd516 · Oct 12, 2008

I don't know if you guys noticed but Spidertrax sells 2 different unit bearings @ 2 different prices.

You already know one is selling for $325. This is because Tom @ spidertrax found out who makes the unit bearing for Ford. He somehow got in contact with the manufacturer of the OEM bearings that makes them for Ford and now gets them direct. He is paying good money for those. Hence the price. The standard 8 on 6.5 is an original Ford part as we know it, except it is milled to except a 35 spline shaft. The 6 and 5 on 5.5 are the same ones except the 8 lug pattern was removed and drilled for the smaller lug patterns and the flange was cut down. For that reason, Spidertrax makes 2 different brake Hats for the 2 different size units.

The other unit bearings that Spidertrax sells you can sometimes find on ebay. I believe they sell for $100. They are the ones that come with the Spidertrax roller kits that are also found on ebay. These units are bought from various after market companies and machined to fit the different patterns and shafts, the same as the original Ford units. The aftermarket units do not come with the same tight tolerances that the Ford ones do. For my purposes I bought the a pair of the $100 ones and will most like buy one more for a spare.

Spidertrax is taking a loss on the cheapos so they can provide quality parts and cut their ties with the after market units. As mentioned above, I would suspect that one of the cheapos was what fell apart.

What I don't know is which units Branik is using. But unless they got a line on the ford ones they are selling the same ones that Spidertrax is trying to get rid of for $100 or they are selling the oem ford ones and not making any profit. :dunno:

I visited the small Spidertrax warehouse/manufacturer a few months back on a trip to CO. I got a tour of their facility and asked these same questions. We were in their place for at least 1.5 hrs. I never did compare them to or bring up any other company. The above was some of the information that I gathered.

Now with that being said, of course they are going to be biased to their on product. But I will tell you that after the tour and seeing all the products they make and how it is done............. drool. Spidertrax is a class act company.

InDaShop · Oct 12, 2008

This thread is by no means and SHOULD NEVER be construed as trying to knock one or the other. They are both top notch businesses, ran by top notch people.

I'm trying to figure out the difference and hence the price difference. Thanks for the help everyone!

Woodlee · Oct 12, 2008

I am going for the bearings from Spidertrax when I order next week for the units I am going to run on my rig. I will probably go with a cheaper unit to keep as a spare though.

afd516 · Oct 12, 2008

InDaShop said:
This thread is by no means and SHOULD NEVER be construed as trying to knock one or the other. They are both top notch businesses, ran by top notch people.

I totally agree, just passing along the info I have. If my previous post was perceived as knocking a company that was not my intentions.

Woodlee said:
I am going for the bearings from Spidertrax when I order next week for the units I am going to run on my rig. I will probably go with a cheaper unit to keep as a spare though.

I went to the Spidertrax site just a bit ago and they do not have the cheaper ones listed under the outlet tab and they are not listed on Ebay. You may try calling to see what they can do for you if they have any left. I bet they are saving them for their roller kits.

Droopy · Oct 12, 2008

afd516 said:
I don't know if you guys noticed but Spidertrax sells 2 different unit bearings @ 2 different prices.

You already know one is selling for $325. This is because Tom @ spidertrax found out who makes the unit bearing for Ford. He somehow got in contact with the manufacturer of the OEM bearings that makes them for Ford and now gets them direct. He is paying good money for those. Hence the price. The standard 8 on 6.5 is an original Ford part as we know it, except it is milled to except a 35 spline shaft. The 6 and 5 on 5.5 are the same ones except the 8 lug pattern was removed and drilled for the smaller lug patterns and the flange was cut down. For that reason, Spidertrax makes 2 different brake Hats for the 2 different size units.

The other unit bearings that Spidertrax sells you can sometimes find on ebay. I believe they sell for $100. They are the ones that come with the Spidertrax roller kits that are also found on ebay. These units are bought from various after market companies and machined to fit the different patterns and shafts, the same as the original Ford units. The aftermarket units do not come with the same tight tolerances that the Ford ones do. For my purposes I bought the a pair of the $100 ones and will most like buy one more for a spare.

Spidertrax is taking a loss on the cheapos so they can provide quality parts and cut their ties with the after market units. As mentioned above, I would suspect that one of the cheapos was what fell apart.

What I don't know is which units Branik is using. But unless they got a line on the ford ones they are selling the same ones that Spidertrax is trying to get rid of for $100 or they are selling the oem ford ones and not making any profit.

I visited the small Spidertrax warehouse/manufacturer a few months back on a trip to CO. I got a tour of their facility and asked these same questions. We were in their place for at least 1.5 hrs. I never did compare them to or bring up any other company. The above was some of the information that I gathered.

Now with that being said, of course they are going to be biased to their on product. But I will tell you that after the tour and seeing all the products they make and how it is done............. drool. Spidertrax is a class act company.

Branik got a line on the Ford ones. He will tell you that. I noticed that question in there somewhere.

--------------

We sure as heck didn't pay for the cheaper ones. :dunno:

Not knocking Spidertrax in the least...but was the explanation I was told a blanket statement to cover them since we have the cheaper part by accident? I wonder? I trust your answer about the roller kit ones. What gets me is we paid for the nice ones. Oh well. It knocked Kim out of her best performance...but that's how the ball rolls.

I do remember Rusty's coming apart last year and it was for the same reason I was told..."Hey...it's an old design...blah blah...we have come out with a new design since then...blah blah." I also know Rusty has had to change that and the knuckles on his pro mod rig because his old knuckles had a lot of play in that bearing (that was also redesigned since when he got his)

FWIW - Our rig is 6 lug.

(Sometimes words come out wrong when I type...I'm not upset or disgruntled at Spidertrax at all. I just tried to help Wyatt out with what I was told from them. Whether ours is an old design, cheaper part, off a 73 Dodge Dart...it don't matter. They are fixing something that needs to be made right and that is cool in my book. booyang

)

P · Oct 12, 2008

This has really turned into a great and informative thread ( if it is fact ) I dont know anyone that would diss either company as they both provide great product and excellent support.

Good feedback though on an interesting topic... thanks guys !!!

afd516 · Oct 12, 2008

Defiantly not knocking either company. I hope for the sake of the consumer that Spidertrak is overpriced on the product and Branik is selling the same thing at a deal. I can't be for sure on that. Either way, as mentioned before both are truly stand up companies.

wngrog · Oct 13, 2008

No Droop, you did not get one of the ones they were selling for $100 on Ebay as they ONLY sold them on Ebay. They bought a pallet or two of them and when they came in they were out of tolerance more than Ford spec so they did not sell them full price. The $100 ones may work fine, but they did not meet Spidertrax QC measures to be sold.

The one that came apart on Droop came apart probably because it did not have the dowel pin on the spindle nut. That is a fairly new procedure and should keep what happened to them from happening again. I would ask Spidertrax if you could keep the one on the opposite side as a spare and get all new ones with the locking Pin if you can swing it.

You have 2 in the rear too, right? If so, and you decide to replace them, I will buy one as a spare if he wont take them back.

Droopy · Oct 23, 2008

I wanted to follow up on this to let you guys know what kind of company Spidertrax is.

They sent the replacement unit bearing for the one that failed. After inspecting further it warped the rotor severely and the hat on that side after driving on it for 30 seconds or so. Spidertrax is also sending a new hat and rotor since it was their unit bearing that failed. :drinkers: