The front bearings are expensive. I do not know of a cheap metric solution.
Be careful on the rears. I just made the mistake of trying to fit a 30204 metric bearing which ended up being a fraction too wide. On the rears I put in 05079 cones and 05185 cups (they come in a pair so if you quote 05079 you will get the correct cups.
On the rears I guess that it depends on what someone may have done in the past to make a metric bearing fit. 30204 is 15.25mm wide, whereas a 05079 is 14.38mm wide (the o/d and i/d are virtually the same).
I guess the answer on the rears is to read the number on the cups and cones and use those. The metric bearings are much cheaper, but not much good if you have to machine the spacers to make them fit.
I have a slight rumble on the front wheel bearing of a 41 m20 I notice on the forum that modern bearings will fit the rear how about the front! Thanks Bryon
I bought my last front wheel bearings from Les at Russells. From memory they were 50 quid each??. He gets them made in UK and I think he said the next batch might be dearer? Worth a call? Ron
Patrick is spot on with his description there Bryon, But my way of looking at it is that if you can machine the spacers to suit the metric bearings, then they will always be available and much much cheaper than the originals,
Darren
My only concern with taking off 34.25 thou per spacer or bearing carrier (whatever is the correct description) was that next time you are knocking out the bearing cup the spacers might buckle.
I didn't measure the width of the spacer, so maybe taking off some metal will not cause any problems.