49-56 Ford car rear axle shaft bearings
 

So, having a problem finding the proper bearings for the factory banjo housing rear end (full size cars) not including station wagons which had an integral housing type rear end.

We got a bearing from NAPA that was allegedly called for in their books. It turned out to be for a larger axle shaft size. Then Advance Auto parts had the same thing. I looked in Mac's and their bearing #8A-1225-A was nearly 1 inch deep (which would have stuck out of the rear axle flange).
Here is the measurements we took of the factory bearing: axle shaft diameter 1.369 inches, Outside diameter 2.834 inches, width (depth) .671 inches.

If the bearing housing is too wide (deep) it will stop against the bore in the axle housing and stick out of the axle flange so that the bearing retainer plate will not bolt down tight to the brake backing plate (allowing the brake plate to hang loose between the axle flange and the bearing retainer plate). The only way to make the brake plate stable would be to cut out a bunch of metal shims matching the bearing retainer plate bolt hole pattern to the tune of about 1/4 inch thickness. And then, you'd need to rework the front end alignment.
Anybody else have trouble with replacement rear axle bearings being offered???

Re: 49-56 Ford car rear axle shaft bearings
 

Do you see any stamping nos. on the old bearing?

NAPA should have had a BEARING INTERCHANGE MANUAL whereas they could go by the stamping no. and/or dimensions.

The MPC gives two possibilities, either @ 1 3/8" ID and 2 13/16" OD but does not give thickness.

Re: 49-56 Ford car rear axle shaft bearings
 

Check out RockAuto, they list a bearing with the width of yours.

Re: 49-56 Ford car rear axle shaft bearings
 

I looked at the bearing RockAuto offers on their website and decided to take a chance on it as the measurements looked promising. I received it today and measured it. The width is perfect and it doesn't have the deep lip sticking out on the inner part of the bearing (which means that the keeper ring can be installed further away from the axle shaft seal. The I.D. measures 1-3/8" on the new bearing. Hope it fits snugly onto the axle shaft. We shall see. If so, this is a winner.