GEM '62

I have a leak from the weep hole on the left rear wheel so I picked up a seal from Zip. When I pulled the axle today several questions have come up. First the wheel bearing is a Hyatt 1542 WA with a single o-ring. The bearing is .905 thick with a .095 spacer behind it. The axle housing bearing depth is 1" so the fit appears correct. On a C1 rear axle bearing post by Tom Parsons this bearing appears to be correct for a 57 but the bearing for a 62 is thicker and has 2 o-rings. I am not seeing a seal so it would seem that these must be sealed bearing, is that correct? The present bearing feels smooth but has about .005" end play but zero side play. Is this acceptable or do I need to change out the bearing? The bearing is pressed on with a retainer sleeve pressed on behind it. I this correct? Can I remove and replace the bearing without the use of a press? I'm sure it's possible but does it make sense? Also, while I'm at it, is the axle held in place only by the press fit of the bearing and sleeve?

Plasticman

That bearing and retainer is a hard press (a press is required). Yes, that is what holds the axle "in". A new bearing should come with a new retainer.

Bearings have seals on them, so no separate seal (other than the outer diameter O ring or rings).

The spare 62 bearing I have on the shelf measures 1" thick, and has the 2 O rings.

If you are seeing rear end lube out the weep hole (and you don't know how old / how many miles), I would replace the bearing. If the bearing is relatively "new", and I found damaged O rings, "maybe" I would just replace the O rings. But the .005" end play leads me to think the bearing has seen "end of life".

Plasticman

MOXIE62

As far as the O rings, the ones you buy from corvette central are way to big (fat). McMaster Carr sells the correct one. I do not remember the number but you can do a search and find it.

Ironcross

I seam to remember a bearing with /or having the number RRW 507 in the description...The OE bearing was the wide one and a two O ring seal...could be of New Departure or BCA orign....However the above bearing with the spacer can work...The OE types have jumped to outrageous prices

GEM '62

Zip has axle bearings with 2 o-rings for $89.50, seem a little pricey. Don't show any retainer in the catalog so I'm not sure is it comes with the bearing. They also show an axle bearing seal. Don't know where that is used if the bearing is sealed.

DZAUTO

The 58-62 Vettes and 58-64 pass car REPLACEMENT, repeat, REPLACEMENT rear axle bearings are the (WIDER) RW607XX series bearings. I have not been able to examine a sufficient number of ORIGINAL 58-62 Vette bearings, NOR, have I accumulated enough information from owners with ORIGINAL axle bearings in their (58-62) cars to make a factual statement. BUT IT APPEARS that some cars came with the thinner (RW307XX series) bearing, PLUS, a shim/spacer as mentioned above.

WHEN REPLACING THE THINNER BEARING (and shim/spacer) WITH AN RW607 SERIES BEARING-------------------THE SPACER IS NOT USED!!!!!!!!!!!!! It seems that ONLY Corvettes used the spacer----------------------pass cars DID NOT use the spacer. Again, I do not have enough information to say positively why some 58-62 Vettes used the spacer along with the thinner wheel bearing, rather than just the thicker RW607 series (JOHN HINKLEY, PLEASE STEP IN HERE IF YOU KNOW).
Now, with all of the above said, the 58-62 Vettes which were equiped FROM THE FACTORY with positraction, they got ROLLER axle bearings (the regular bearings had ball bearings), which were also the wide version.

Next, regarding the O-rings and seals. ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL of the axle bearings (REGARDLESS of manufacturer) were sealed bearings. SOME of the vendors sell seals. But that is NOT the way to go. Here is why. There were several bearing manufacturers who made these bearings. The seal that is sold by some vendors MAY or MAY NOT fit a particular bearing. So, if a bearing seal is leaking, and a new seal is purchased, there is no assurance that it will fit the bearing (the seal is on the OUTSIDE of the bearing, thus, the bearing MUST be removed from the axle).
Also, to remove the bearing from the axle, the lock ring must be destroyed-------------------NEW LOCK RINGS CANNOT BE PURCHASED SEPERATELY!!!!!!!!!!!! They ONLY come with a new bearing (all new bearings do come with a lock ring). So, if you bust the lock ring and remove the bearing, the ONLY way to get another lock ring is to buy the bearing. Furthermore, IT IS VERY PROBABLE that if the bearing seal is leaking, then the bearing is starting to go bad, so it needs to be replaced anyway!

O-rings.
Since these bearings were made by different manufacturers (Hyatt, New Departure, Green, BCA, TRW, SKF, etc, etc, etc), they did not all use the same O-rings. Some bearings have one groove, some have two grooves, some have narrow grooves, some have wide grooves-------------------------THEY WERE NOT STANDARDIZED!!!!!! That is why some bearings have fat O-rings and some have thin O-rings. So, again, just because a vendor sells O-rings, the one they sell may not necessarily be the one that is needed for a particular bearing.

Oh ya, by the way, Rock Auto has the RW607NR bearing for $68, and if you have a discount code, then you get 10% off.

GEM '62

Does anyone have a supplier for the correct roller bearing, besides the Corvette part houses?

DZAUTO

There ain't none!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They were discontinued many years ago. If there are any NOS roller bearings in existance--------------------they will be VERY pricy.
The ball bearings (RW607 series) will work just fine.

Vet65te

Hey Tom, what's this about a discount code for RockAuto? And, for my 56 Nomad which will soon get the 3:55 posi center section you set up for me, could you please remind me which bearings those early housings used?
Thanks,
Mike T.

DZAUTO

People who frequently buy from Rock Auto will often get an email with a discount code. When ordering online from Rock Auto, the code goes in the How did you hear about us box.

What year is the housing????????????? Need to be more specific than just "early".

This is the most recent discount code I got from them: 2119307019080425.

Vet65te

Tom, thanks for the code. I haven't double checked the diff in the 56 Nomad but am fairly certain it's the original '56 housing and thought that's considered the early housing (55 and 56)?
Mike T.

DZAUTO

The axle bearing for 55-6 pass cars and 56 Vettes is the RW507ER series. Rock Auto has them for $53(National) and $54(Timken).

Vet65te

Great, tomorrow I'll be ordering a set for both the Nomad and the 61 Vette. Thanks, Tom,
Mike T.

JohnZ

Tom, I can't add anything here; I enjoy your posts, as I almost always learn something from them.

GEM '62

Thanks for the posts guys. I stopped at Zip and bought a bearing,
pricey er than Rock Auto but faster.