Wheel bearing problems
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 216
Likes: 1
From: Savannah GA
Wheel bearing problems
I purchased a new spindle set up tool to redo my 68 corvette wheel bearings. I also purchased a shim and spacer kit that came with 9 different size shims. Here is my problem. When I set the tool up with the bearings, shim and spacer, I have no play before I add any shims. What do I suppose to do? Put in the smallest shim? I have a dial gauge and it shows zero movement with no shims. Confused.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Without the shims you won't have any play..
So pick one in the middle for a place to start, then check your end play... and like Bill said.. make changes accordingly. I try to shoot for 3-4 thousandths run out... I've always set them up this way and in all the years I've been in business I've never had one come back.
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Aug 28, 2017 at 09:05 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,116
Likes: 598
I had a similar problem, the new Large spacer was bigger and with no shims the bearings where to tight. I took the large spacer to a machine shop to trim it down so I could add 1 shim to get 0.001 end play.
Am I reading you info correct. You add shims to make up space (tighten) remove shims to loosen / add more end play.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
Are you sure ?
I had a similar problem, the new Large spacer was bigger and with no shims the bearings where to tight. I took the large spacer to a machine shop to trim it down so I could add 1 shim to get 0.001 end play.
Am I reading you info correct. You add shims to make up space (tighten) remove shims to loosen / add more end play.
I had a similar problem, the new Large spacer was bigger and with no shims the bearings where to tight. I took the large spacer to a machine shop to trim it down so I could add 1 shim to get 0.001 end play.
Am I reading you info correct. You add shims to make up space (tighten) remove shims to loosen / add more end play.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,116
Likes: 598
I had the main spacer shortened so I could get the required end play
I had too much end play with no shims
How soon I forgot this horrible job replacing the rear bearings
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 161
Likes: 17
From: Georgia
And beware of aftermarket junk, the shim size I needed was off .002 around the circumference. Drove me nuts until I figured out what was going on. Every time I spun the assembly, the endplay measured differently. I had to take a larger shim that was true and mill it down to the size I needed.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I can cheat if needed, I have a lathe... If I can't get 3-4 then I can always spin the spacer up in the lathe and make an adjustment to obtain the clearance I want... but that doesn't happen very often, in fact I can't tell you the last time I had to do this.
But.. as stated above.... No shims means no clearance... Add shims until you get end play then adjust appropriately.
Willcox
But.. as stated above.... No shims means no clearance... Add shims until you get end play then adjust appropriately.
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Aug 28, 2017 at 10:20 PM.