Rear wheel bearings
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 31
Likes: 5
From: Columbus Ohio
Rear wheel bearings
So I am putting a winter to do list on my 82. I was going to pull the rear spindles and clean and pack bearings. Then I see Ecklers has a rear wheel bearing greasing tool. Has any one ever used this? It does seem like over kill to pull it all apart just to pack the bearings. They don't make noise, just want to be sure they are greased. Only has 47,000 miles on it. Since I'm pulling the half shafts to do u joints I figure its a good time to do this. being new to the vette any advice would be helpful.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I tried it on a junk spindle we had here just to see how far the grease would get... It will pump grease to the inner bearing but it didn't get much to the outer one. Your best bet would be to check the run out on the bearings and see where they are at. As low of mileage as you have on the car I feel that would be the first thing I'd check.
I try to run the rear bearings at three to four thousandths, I don't like them tighter than that and I've never had one come back bad. The general spec on this is one to eight.
If the wheel bearing rolls freely when you pull the half shaft and checks out on specs then you might want to try the greaser tool, but if it's good and in specs I would run it as is.
IMHO,
-Willcox
I try to run the rear bearings at three to four thousandths, I don't like them tighter than that and I've never had one come back bad. The general spec on this is one to eight.
If the wheel bearing rolls freely when you pull the half shaft and checks out on specs then you might want to try the greaser tool, but if it's good and in specs I would run it as is.
IMHO,
-Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Sep 18, 2016 at 07:05 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,743
Likes: 289
From: Chardon Ohio
As others have said, the 'greasing' tool only will get to the inner bearing, which is not much use. A bearing overhaul consists of a complete rear disassembly of the trailing arms which is quite a job. So factor that in when you're getting a list for the winter. It's something you'll want to do as a whole large project including U joints while you're in there. I did my complete rear end last winter and it was a big job but it needed to be done. The bearings were not bad but the trailing arm bushings were shot. I'm glad I did it but it was a big project.
Jim
Jim
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,743
Likes: 289
From: Chardon Ohio
As others have said, the 'greasing' tool only will get to the inner bearing, which is not much use. A bearing overhaul consists of a complete rear disassembly of the trailing arms which is quite a job. So factor that in when you're getting a list for the winter. It's something you'll want to do as a whole large project including U joints while you're in there. I did my complete rear end last winter and it was a big job but it needed to be done. The bearings were not bad but the trailing arm bushings were shot. I'm glad I did it but it was a big project.
Jim
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,454
Likes: 977
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
I am planning on this BIG job (LOL) in the near future since the 78 has 67,000 miles on it. I plan on removing the whole rear trailing arm as an assembly and bringing them to GR for a rebuild...he did my steering box...tremendous workmanship. I will reinstall myself but $$$ doing it this way.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 31
Likes: 5
From: Columbus Ohio
You said it. I'm gonna check the run out. If its ok I am just gonna hit em with the greaser for now. May not grease it all, but some is better than none. I am already running up quite a bill for all the work I'm going to do. I can tell Mama is starting to get annoyed. LOL. Sounds like a good project for next winter. All by its self. The car has only had maybe 1000 miles put on it in the last 4-5 years. I have put that on it in the last three weeks. And this is causing her to show her age. Thanks for the info.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 31
Likes: 5
From: Columbus Ohio
I am planning on this BIG job (LOL) in the near future since the 78 has 67,000 miles on it. I plan on removing the whole rear trailing arm as an assembly and bringing them to GR for a rebuild...he did my steering box...tremendous workmanship. I will reinstall myself but $$$ doing it this way.
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Update
I pulled the other trailing arm. Inner bearing was froze to axle shaft. Even the Excker’s axle pusher could not budge it. It worked fine when I did the first side. But I digress. The reason I bring it up is to say that you need a lot of speciality tools to work on the rear axles and bearings. If you don’t have these DONT TRY THIS!’ Take it toca specialist.
my problem was getting the right lateral play. I solved it. It was cockpit error. I was led astray by the instructions of the setup tool. It stated to start with .145 shim which will give excessive play and the using thinner shims you can find the sweet spot. The problem is a .145 shimmy gives no play. So I used the two largest shims and got excessive play. I kept the largest shim and traded the next largest shim for a smaller one. I found that by using a .145 togeter with a 121 shim for a total of .266 tourked to 120, I ended with .003. I’m done. Thanks to all replied
my problem was getting the right lateral play. I solved it. It was cockpit error. I was led astray by the instructions of the setup tool. It stated to start with .145 shim which will give excessive play and the using thinner shims you can find the sweet spot. The problem is a .145 shimmy gives no play. So I used the two largest shims and got excessive play. I kept the largest shim and traded the next largest shim for a smaller one. I found that by using a .145 togeter with a 121 shim for a total of .266 tourked to 120, I ended with .003. I’m done. Thanks to all replied