Front Wheel Bearings - WTF?!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 15
From: Lusby MD
Front Wheel Bearings - WTF?!
I'm redoing all the brakes (rotors, calipers, pads, and hoses) on my newly purchased 68 convertible. I just drilled out the rivets in the rotors and installed new bearing races and bearings. Tonight I went to reinstall the bare hubs and the right side went right on, no sweat. I went around to the left side and can't get the hub to slide all the way up on the spindle. The inner bearing is hanging up before the final lip where the bearing surface is. I didn't want to 'pursuade' it too much in fear that something is wrong, but I did massage it pretty hard by hand.
Just to confirm that I didn't get the wrong bearing or something like that, I pulled the RH hub back off and tried to install it on the left. Same problem. I won't go on freely.
Just for giggles, I pulled a new hub/rotor assembly off my 69 to see if it would fit. The whole assembly is different. The 69 has a much stouter spindle. The bearings, races, and spindle nut were all MUCH bigger.
How do I get this new bearing on this stubborn LH side? I'm so close to getting this car driving but keep hitting roadblocks....
Just to confirm that I didn't get the wrong bearing or something like that, I pulled the RH hub back off and tried to install it on the left. Same problem. I won't go on freely.
Just for giggles, I pulled a new hub/rotor assembly off my 69 to see if it would fit. The whole assembly is different. The 69 has a much stouter spindle. The bearings, races, and spindle nut were all MUCH bigger.
How do I get this new bearing on this stubborn LH side? I'm so close to getting this car driving but keep hitting roadblocks....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Yes the 69s are larger. First year for that. My question is why drill out the rivets? Thats not necessary or desirable unless new rotors are necessary. I would pull the bearing back out and check it over the spindle to see if it will go on. Also check the old one to see if there is any difference.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
The fact that BOTH would not fit that side tells me there might be something wrong with the spindle. Maybe it's just a little ding, or maybe it just needs to be polished a little with some fine emery cloth
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 15
From: Lusby MD
The change in spindles was a surprise to me. I thought I had all the weird 68/69 differences down. That one caught me off guard. Its not really relevent to the issue at hand though. Just an observation.
I decided to go ahead and completely refurb the brakes since this car hadn't been driven since '82. I already had a complete set of O-ring calipers around so it was an easy decision. So while I was at it I decided to grab a new set of rotors. They're pretty cheap. That's why I drilled out the rivits on the old rotors.
Big Fish: That's a good point. I'll check that tonight. It was getting pretty dark by the time I got to the left side and decided to call it a day and have dinner when I got frustrated. I'll clean the spindle up good tonight and inspect it closely. A Little emery cloth might be a decent answer. Meanwhile, if anyone else has a suggestion....
I decided to go ahead and completely refurb the brakes since this car hadn't been driven since '82. I already had a complete set of O-ring calipers around so it was an easy decision. So while I was at it I decided to grab a new set of rotors. They're pretty cheap. That's why I drilled out the rivits on the old rotors.
Big Fish: That's a good point. I'll check that tonight. It was getting pretty dark by the time I got to the left side and decided to call it a day and have dinner when I got frustrated. I'll clean the spindle up good tonight and inspect it closely. A Little emery cloth might be a decent answer. Meanwhile, if anyone else has a suggestion....
