By back right wheel bearing suddenly died in a spectacular fashion, I have found a replacement at 17mm wide rather than 27mm wide for £8.60. Is there a good reason not to put this in and hope it works?

The cheapest 27mm wide one I can find is £15.50

What is 17 and 27 mm wide?
Is it 2cv or van/ami bearings?

Well that would explain why your car was not handling very well [see other posts re: car trying to kill me]

If you would like the car to try and kill you again fit any old wheel bearing. If you want to live long and prosper, fit the correct one.

To "hope" a component like a wheel bearing is going to work is like saying I hope I dont die if I stick my head on a railway line.

Be sensible.

Just noticed you are a medical student, thats a bit worrying!!

I grabbed an old less shagged one from the shed and put that on instead, improving the handling notably, so it does seem to have been the root of the problem.

I normally try and do things properly but with a huge impending rent bill, and not enough to pay it, I'm scraping around for every penny.

I've found an industrial bearing supplier down the road I'll give a ring later and see if they have something more suitable at a lower price.

Or you could save up and buy the real thing and save a life. The wheel could come off if the bearing fails. A wheel bouncing down the road could kill.

Agree, don't fit any other bearings than correct ones. It is risky business.
If you can't afford it, leave the car at home until you can.
Happy ducking

35x72x27 - it's the only size!

Thats just stupid

and poverty no excuse as all that will happen is you waste £8.60 on a usless bearing then spend on a proper one as well

Sean

Not to mention the fact that it will invalidate your insurance if it's discovered after an incident occurs.

Sorry to gang up on you but a criminal conviction for that makes getting work in the NHS a wee bit difficult for at least six years and casts a serious doubt on your ability to make a correct judgement.

You are right about one thing though, local bearing specialists can often come up trumps. I use a local firm called Orbic Bearings and they're even able to supply the correct bearings for some of my sixty year old model aircraft engines

I should add that they're not necessarily cheaper than a certain excellent Staffs supplier. But they don't cost more and I often find there's an unnecessary but effectively free upgrade to the standard part plus there's no waiting or postage.