C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

85 front wheel bearings

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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 04:23 PM
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From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
Default 85 front wheel bearings

I am helping my buddy with his 85, the front wheels don't really spin freely so we decided the front wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The new bearing assembaly we got are even harder to turn then the old ones did we get a bad set or are the front wheels of a C4 supposed to have some drag on them
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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 05:17 PM
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What brand of hub assembly did he get? Something off fleabay or a chain parts store?

Both SKF and National are good hub assemblies. I have Nationals on the front of my '87 and they have a good 100 autocross runs on them and something like 10 hours of track time. They turn freely, there is no signs of wear and no leaks.
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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 05:59 PM
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He got a brand called Duralast fom the Autozone. They also looked different from the ones we took off, they had an open back with what looked like a gear on the back. The ones we took off have a sealed back.
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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 07:38 PM
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Hard to say who makes that brand but chances are it's "off-shore", probably chinese.

The back of the hub should be sealed. The "gear" is for the speed sensor and that type of hub is for cars with ABS which his 85 does not have.

The back of the hub should have a pressed on cover as the nut that holds everything together is at the back of the assembly. With no cover, dirt and water will get in there. If the original hub assembly has a o-ring, that will have to be moved to the new hub. But it sounds like you have the wrong hub.
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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 07:39 PM
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The only time I change wheel bearings is when they're noisy or if there's too much play. If you're asking if their suppose to spin freely loosely like a bicycle wheel then no. That gear you mentioned is probably the used with the abs which his car don't have.

Last edited by black88z51; Nov 15, 2012 at 08:02 PM.
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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 08:23 PM
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Well it sounds like he got the wrong ones, Thanx. I know it won't spin like a bicycle wheel they just feel real tight. When I raise the front of either my C3 or C5 off the ground Spin the front wheel it will make a few revolutions before it stops. This car the wheels stop spinning as soon as you let go. The new bearings he got look to be just as tight if not tighter than the old ones.
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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by RockyL32
This car the wheels stop spinning as soon as you let go. The new bearings he got look to be just as tight if not tighter than the old ones.
Sounds like a warped or dragging brake caliper, not a wheel bearing.
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Old Nov 15, 2012 | 08:58 PM
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From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
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I first noticed it when we were doing the breaks on the car. With no pads on or the caliper in place I spun the rotor and it stopped as soon as I let go. While trying to spin even the new bearing assy before installing it I bet it takes 3 or more pounds of force to spin it.
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Old Nov 16, 2012 | 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by RockyL32
I first noticed it when we were doing the breaks on the car. With no pads on or the caliper in place I spun the rotor and it stopped as soon as I let go. While trying to spin even the new bearing assy before installing it I bet it takes 3 or more pounds of force to spin it.
I doubt you got the "wrong" hubs, the "ring" is for ABS BUT the service hub/bearing is the same for all '84 - '90MY Corvettes. It seems maybe your hubs aren't installed yet and if that's the case carry them back and compare to maybe a few "off the shelf" hubs/bearings that they have.

If there's any doubt "exchange" them. Which warranty was on these hubs? I believe AZ does a 1 year and also have a 3 year hub for most applications. Maybe not earlier applications though!

The DuraLast image on the AZ website looks to be what I'd expect out of the box. 1 year warranty.

Last edited by WVZR-1; Nov 16, 2012 at 10:18 AM.
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Old Nov 16, 2012 | 10:22 AM
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From: If your not the lead dog the view never changes Boise, Id
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These are a special order part so there will be not be any to compare to, just thought that if the C4 front wheels had any drag on them by design I would find out here. Thanx for all the help
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Old Nov 16, 2012 | 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by RockyL32
These are a special order part so there will be not be any to compare to, just thought that if the C4 front wheels had any drag on them by design I would find out here. Thanx for all the help
I expected that they'd be Special Order BUT they should have maybe 100 or so on the shelf of comparable parts!
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