rear wheel bearing
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Plano TX
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Thunder Bay
That's a pretty good run through of the process for rebuilding the rear wheel bearings. A couple of things are glossed over. There are special service tools available for getting things apart, but they only work if they come apart easily. I've done this and it can be extremely challenging to get them apart. One of mine required a 50 ton press. OK, maybe I could have done it with a smaller press, but its what I had. Also, there is little mention of the process of setting up the bearings for play. There is a tool that allows you to trial assemble the bearings to measure the play. You need to get one of these, otherwise you have to press the entire assembly together, measure the play, and press it all apart again to change the shim. Doable, but very time consuming.
If you're not a pretty accomplished mechanic, just remove the entire trailing arm and ship it off to someone who does these all the time.
If you're not a pretty accomplished mechanic, just remove the entire trailing arm and ship it off to someone who does these all the time.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: columbia city in
i have more of a 6 and 12 problem .3 and 9 not that bad .what should i look for on the yoke ?the pictures tell me a lot .sending it off for repair might be a wise thing to do .i need to look into this yoke .thanks for all replys .
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Tuttle OK
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Also, there is little mention of the process of setting up the bearings for play. There is a tool that allows you to trial assemble the bearings to measure the play. You need to get one of these, otherwise you have to press the entire assembly together, measure the play, and press it all apart again to change the shim.
.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
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From: Thunder Bay
Cool idea. 
One other thing to consider while its apart. Take the bearings and the spindle in to a good machine shop and have them turn the spindle down until the bearings are a .002" interference fit. (Spindle diameter .002" larger than the inside diameter of the bearing.) Makes them easier to diasassemble and reassemble.
One other thing to consider while its apart. Take the bearings and the spindle in to a good machine shop and have them turn the spindle down until the bearings are a .002" interference fit. (Spindle diameter .002" larger than the inside diameter of the bearing.) Makes them easier to diasassemble and reassemble.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Plano TX
Also, there is little mention of the process of setting up the bearings for play. There is a tool that allows you to trial assemble the bearings to measure the play. You need to get one of these, otherwise you have to press the entire assembly together, measure the play, and press it all apart again to change the shim. Doable, but very time consuming.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Thunder Bay
Le Mans Master
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From: McHenry Illinois
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Plano TX
Now if you're replacing the spindle anyway I agree that turning the old spindle down to make it slip fit and doing your setup that way is the best solution.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Thunder Bay
You're talking about the yoke at the differential? If so, you have a problem with the bearings in the differential and you're looking at a complete differential rebuild. If you are seeing the movement at the wheel end (which is called the spindle - the yoke is at the differential end) then you have a wheel bearing problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Anderson SC
Cool idea.
One other thing to consider while its apart. Take the bearings and the spindle in to a good machine shop and have them turn the spindle down until the bearings are a .002" interference fit. (Spindle diameter .002" larger than the inside diameter of the bearing.) Makes them easier to diasassemble and reassemble.
One other thing to consider while its apart. Take the bearings and the spindle in to a good machine shop and have them turn the spindle down until the bearings are a .002" interference fit. (Spindle diameter .002" larger than the inside diameter of the bearing.) Makes them easier to diasassemble and reassemble.
And don't forget that a "good" machine shop is hard to find if you don't do this every day.
-W
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Anderson SC
Terry, the cheapest "easy" method is to drive the thing to a Vette specialty shop and have him change the bearings with the T/A right on the car.
It outta be about 2 hours labor plus the bearings,grease, and new french locks.
It outta be about 2 hours labor plus the bearings,grease, and new french locks.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
You're talking about the yoke at the differential? If so, you have a problem with the bearings in the differential and you're looking at a complete differential rebuild. If you are seeing the movement at the wheel end (which is called the spindle - the yoke is at the differential end) then you have a wheel bearing problem.