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I'm currently dissambling the tralingarms, the original roller bearings still look pretty good, but I'm going to replace them with new Timken bearings and races.
What worries me is where the inner bearing runs along the shaft. The surface is slightly damaged and no longer perfect smooth.
Can anyone tell me if this is still OK or what the tolerance is?
Sorry to say but that axle is toast. The bearings are designed to be a press fit so the inner races don't turn, relative to the axle, like yours did, destroying it in the process.
That is not uncommon to see. I see the outer bearings are still in place, that's a good sign. If they came off the axle removing the axle, then almost always the axle is undersize. The inner bearing journal should be measured, if the dimension is 1.187" or less it's no good. If you have a 001" press fit then a simple polish of the axle, not heavy polishing to remove 001, is all you need. If there are burn marks from someone burning off the bearings in the past, then you might have to replace them too.
The splines are not twisted, the threads don't look mushroomed over, chances are very good those are still good but you have to measure them.
Now how you setup the new bearings is a whole different story. I know everyone will tell you 002" and stop, I never go there since I remove all the lateral play in the bearings. I machine fit the parts. When all is said and done, the arms assembled, rotor secure, you should not feel any rock in the rotor at 3 & 9. Axle endplay should not be felt grabbing a wheel and trying to push and pull on it.
Thanks for the advice! It is only light on the surface and on one you can feel it slightly with the nail. I have no burn marks, the bearings were still the first one from the factory. I do have not the right tool to measure exactly the dimensions, I have only a $20 caliper gauge. I only have to hold it slightly askew and it's not right. I'll give this to a professional to measure and check.
Is the inner bearing also a press fit? This is not as tight as the outer bearing. As these can be easily opened with a spindle knocker.
For the setup is a tinny bit play (001-002") not good? Metal expands a little with the heat due to the rotation.
You need a micrometer to measure the shaft a caliper is not good enough.
I listed the dimension above if it is not what I specified it is no good there is no debate about this if you want to do it correctly
as for setting the bearings to a precise dial in you need to have good measurement tools
l won’t get into how I dial them in since it’s involved and it doesn’t sound like you have the proper tools for that
From your picture it appears you have moderate to severe galling damage. Any effort to smooth out the surface will result in a reduced diameter which is not conducive to a proper press fit. No way would I put that back in a car. I would find another axle.
No, I don't want to get into a debate about setting the spindle, I just wanted to understand as a beginner why you always set the tolerance to 0.
Correct, I don't have the tools and experience for this work. A professional who also builds many engines professionally will measure the spindle for me and check if it still works, if not there will be a new spindle.
Is there a recommendation regarding quality?
I have also heard of a solution with Loctite if it is only a small amount. What is your experience with this? Because I was told that this has even been done on truck axles without any problems.
I recently replaced my left rear spindle just because I had the slightest doubt. The fact is it looks heaps better than the one you show here. But my bearing end play had magically increased and I felt the need to replace the bearings, races and seals and get that end play back where it belongs.
So with just the slightest doubt. I ordered a new shaft from Bairs Corvettes. It wasn't overly expensive. And the real pros on here may say there's better ones. But it certainly looks to be good quality and I'm not running super power.
just a mildly built 350.
And I am pretty hard on her however, so time will tell.
In the past I've always been happy with products from Bairs. So that's where I went.
Rear Spindle Shaft Surface
