Rear main bearing seal's.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 61
From: Saint clair shores Michigan
Rear main bearing seal's.
Okay. I told my mechanic to repack all the barring seal's. He said that the fronts were kinda dry. So I asked about the rear. He said that they were sealed, not to worry. He said unless there making a squealing sound not to worry. The car is a 77. What do you guys think?
Thanks. John.
Thanks. John.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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You're in good hands with that mechanic.
No need to take a trailing arm or the rear end apart if you don't have any problems.
No need to take a trailing arm or the rear end apart if you don't have any problems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
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Your title is misleading. The rear main seal would be on an engine. It sounds like you are talking about rear wheel bearings in the trailing arms. The rear spindle bearings are not sealed. They are tapered bearings and do require extensive removal to grease. This would also require a lot of special tools as well.
How many miles are on the car? If it is original and Unknown it would be best to have them checked. The grease in those bearings does dry out as well. I think I’ve seen it mentioned on this forum the factory manual might have called for service of them at 30,000 miles or maybe 50,0000. I don’t remember what folks posted.
How many miles are on the car? If it is original and Unknown it would be best to have them checked. The grease in those bearings does dry out as well. I think I’ve seen it mentioned on this forum the factory manual might have called for service of them at 30,000 miles or maybe 50,0000. I don’t remember what folks posted.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 61
From: Saint clair shores Michigan
Yeah you're right. It is misleading. The car say's 53 thousand miles. Thr fronts were kinda dry. But he did tell me not to worry? So I don't know.
Thanks.
John.
Thanks.
John.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
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From: Thunder Bay
I would worry. If the fronts were dry, the backs will probably be dry too. There is no significant difference in the bearings or the grease. The rears are just more difficult to service. The factory service manual calls for them to be regreased at 30-50,000 miles. Yours have all of that and are 40 years old. You should have the job on your to-do list.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 61
From: Saint clair shores Michigan
Yeah drwit. That's what I'm thinking. The mechanic real busy at the time. I'm gonna talk to him again. But he's a great mechanic,so I have trust in him. 40 yrs is a long time to take a chance.
thanks.
John..
thanks.
John..
Race Director
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Time to lube them. Not pretty when they die and costs a lot more.
Jim.
Jim.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
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From: Thunder Bay
No matter how good he is, I would not give this job to someone without experience with them. They are a unique design and it requires some special tools to do the job. Do a search on this forum for 'rear wheel bearings' and do some reading. My usual advice is to remove the trailing arms and ship them off for rebuilding to someone who does a lot of them, and has a good reputation.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 61
From: Saint clair shores Michigan
I live 2 hours north of Detroit. But I'm from there. I know ah mechanic down there also. I will be talking to him. I'm gonna get it done.
Thank you guys!
John.
Thank you guys!
John.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Indianapolis IN
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
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That mechanic that told you not to worry is
Unless you absolutely, positively KNOW the maintenance history, I would recommend doing it as well. Waiting until the rear bearings make noise is the WORST philosophy for rear wheel bearing maintenance ever. The advice that mechanic gave was stupid at best...and I'm being kind. At the point of "squealing" bearings, you're too late to just service them...you'll be into the job for a whole lot more than just grease and new seals.
Here is an excerpt from the 1976 owners manual regarding rear bearing maintenance. As you can see, there IS a schedule for maintenance of rear bearings...and it sure doesn't say wait until they squeal.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Indianapolis IN
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
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I just completed this job on my '76 a couple of months ago. Below is a picture of the tools I used, labeled for identification.
I would recommend you read up on doing the job before jumping in to completely familiarize yourself with the procedure. If you do not have the factory service manual for your car, buy one. It is invaluable.
Also, you do NOT have to remove the trailing arms to perform the rear bearing service. This service can be performed on the car with the trailing arms and rear spring installed. I would strongly recommend against removing them (trailing arms) unless you know for certain you have and issue which requires their removal.
Here are the tools needed:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Nice photo of all the tools.
Here are some instructions for the spindles.
https://www.duntovmotors.com/tech-rear-spindle.php
After reading the instructions, I removed the trailing arms and brought them to Corvette Etc.
My rear seals have 97,000 on them are they don't leak so I just changed the fluid.
Here are some instructions for the spindles.
https://www.duntovmotors.com/tech-rear-spindle.php
After reading the instructions, I removed the trailing arms and brought them to Corvette Etc.
My rear seals have 97,000 on them are they don't leak so I just changed the fluid.
Last edited by Peterbuilt; May 15, 2018 at 03:22 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 61
From: Saint clair shores Michigan
Hey Peterbulit. So you didn't put new seal's in? So you just changed the fluid in the rear end housing? How could that have anything to do with the bearing? Or maybe you just mean that you changed the bearing,and fluid.