rear spindle grease question
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
.001-.008" clearance does not mean that "Less is best". Too little clearance is usually WORSE than too much. There needs to be some clearance for the parts to receive lube. I suspect that .003" is just about optimum for this bearing fit.
Yes, YOU can use regular grease in the T/A bearings and it will likely last longer than your ownership of the car. But if you aren't thinking about saving yourself the grief of re-doing that job, at least consider the plight of the next owner. What's another couple of buck$ worth of [synthetic] grease costing you? If you're going to do that job, give it the best shot at long term success that it can get.
If GM would have used synthetic grease in the T/A bearings, ALL of them could be working fine today!
Yes, YOU can use regular grease in the T/A bearings and it will likely last longer than your ownership of the car. But if you aren't thinking about saving yourself the grief of re-doing that job, at least consider the plight of the next owner. What's another couple of buck$ worth of [synthetic] grease costing you? If you're going to do that job, give it the best shot at long term success that it can get.
If GM would have used synthetic grease in the T/A bearings, ALL of them could be working fine today!
Last edited by 7T1vette; Nov 27, 2016 at 09:58 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,583
Likes: 504
From: Indianapolis IN
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
C4 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Thank you 7T1vette, your input is appreciated as well! 
Admittedly and honestly, the plight of the next owner never even crosses my mind. What does take front and center though is doing every job right the first time...which I'm sure always equates to grateful subsequent owners that have purchased any of my cars. Just once I'd like to be one of those guys...
I just finished replacing the U joints in the drive and half shafts with HD non-greaseable U-joints while waiting on my bearing spacer parts to show up. The fun just never ends....
.003 is THE number I'll be setting these at.
Admittedly and honestly, the plight of the next owner never even crosses my mind. What does take front and center though is doing every job right the first time...which I'm sure always equates to grateful subsequent owners that have purchased any of my cars. Just once I'd like to be one of those guys...
I just finished replacing the U joints in the drive and half shafts with HD non-greaseable U-joints while waiting on my bearing spacer parts to show up. The fun just never ends....
.003 is THE number I'll be setting these at.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
I agree....that heat expansion needs to be considered which I am sure is what '7T1vette' was gettign at.
I can say that if someone is concerned about the bearing clearance being a bit too 'tight'...because it is on a the low scale of thousandths of an inch that GM specified. And knowing that things may heat up and expand.
I know for a fact that wheel bearings that I set to .003"...are perfectly fine when I have disassembled the parts so I could check the wheel bearings for run-out and ease of turning the spindle when they just came off a 250 mile drive.
The next car I test...I may not incorporate that rear brake caliper on that side so heat from the brake pads do not get introduced into the assembly. That way I can take a heat measurement of the bearing housing and see what it is all about. But..as far as I know....things are all good and I am not having to re-do bearings around the clock.
DUB
I can say that if someone is concerned about the bearing clearance being a bit too 'tight'...because it is on a the low scale of thousandths of an inch that GM specified. And knowing that things may heat up and expand.
I know for a fact that wheel bearings that I set to .003"...are perfectly fine when I have disassembled the parts so I could check the wheel bearings for run-out and ease of turning the spindle when they just came off a 250 mile drive.
The next car I test...I may not incorporate that rear brake caliper on that side so heat from the brake pads do not get introduced into the assembly. That way I can take a heat measurement of the bearing housing and see what it is all about. But..as far as I know....things are all good and I am not having to re-do bearings around the clock.
DUB
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Like a said above, .003-004 seems to be what we call "our perfect" clearance. You always want to backset the bearings dry and then pop them for the clearance. You back set them simply by rotating your set up tool and pulling it outward from the housing. Then set your zero mark on your magnetic dial indicator and push inward for the clearance.
Willcox
