Mid Year Rear Wheel Bearings - NCRS Discussion Boards

Mid Year Rear Wheel Bearings

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  • Dennis R.
    Infrequent User
    • April 30, 2001
    • 13

    Mid Year Rear Wheel Bearings

    Had my drum brake mid-year trailing arms rebuilt 2,900 miles ago by Van Steel. On a cruise last night, I noticed a "knock" at low speed about every second wheel revolution. Could a bearing be going bad already, and how can I check to see which side it would be on?
  • mike cobine

    #2
    Re: Mid Year Rear Wheel Bearings

    Is it a knock or does the suspension kick? I've had u-joints go bad and they were kick the wheels in or out. I just dropped a couple of shims and the trailing arm kicks left and right at front, which makes the back of the car jump left or right as you accelerate/decelerate.

    You need to get the car in the air, support the weight by the trailing arms so the halfshafts appear close to level (wheels not hanging down), transmission in neutral, and then rotate the tires to see what moves, pops, makes noise, etc.

    Comment

    • Joe L.
      Beyond Control Poster
      • February 1, 1988
      • 43221

      #3
      Re: Mid Year Rear Wheel Bearings

      Mike-----

      My guess would be u-joints. If you didn't replace these at the time of the trailing arm rebuild, I can almost guarantee you that's your problem.

      Even if you did replace them, they could very likley still be the problem. If they're "zerk fitting type" u-joints, did you grease them through the zerks after installation? This type of u-joint is shipped with only a light coating of grease for corrosion protection purposes. They MUST be greased after installation. Lubed-for-life type (i.e. those without grease fittings) are pre-greased).

      Also, what brand of u-joints did you use if you did replace the joints? In the half shaft application, some of the "cheapies" will go out in no time flat.
      In Appreciation of John Hinckley

      Comment

      • Dennis R.
        Infrequent User
        • April 30, 2001
        • 13

        #4
        Re: Mid Year Rear Wheel Bearings

        Mike and Joe--thanks for the response--yes, I did replace the u-joints with ones supplied from a company called "Universal Joint Sales" in Scranton--had the shafts balanced and the u-joints with zerks installed--they where greased at install and have been greased sinced.
        Per Mike's suggestion, I currently have the car raised with the wheels supported. Although I can spin the tires by hand and get no noise, I seem to have excess play in the drivers side rear axle--how much in and out play is normal?

        Comment

        • Joe L.
          Beyond Control Poster
          • February 1, 1988
          • 43221

          #5
          Re: Mid Year Rear Wheel Bearings

          Mike-----

          Lateral movement of the stub axle in the differential should not exceed about 1/16", or so.

          Very rarely will one be able to discern a u-joint problem by turning the wheels by hand. The joints have to be totally shot for any problem to be noted that way. There's no way that yours would be that bad if they were replaced, regardless of what the joints are.

          A bearing problem can often be discerned by rotating the wheel by hand. Not always, but often. Usually, a "roughness" will be felt at some point in the rotation.
          In Appreciation of John Hinckley

          Comment

          • Dennis R.
            Infrequent User
            • April 30, 2001
            • 13

            #6
            Re: Mid Year Rear Wheel Bearings

            Thanks, Joe--I was afraid of that--I can feel a little "drag" in one spot when rotating the wheel by hand--guess it's back to square one

            Comment

            • Joe L.
              Beyond Control Poster
              • February 1, 1988
              • 43221

              #7
              Re: Mid Year Rear Wheel Bearings

              Mike-----

              The "spinning the wheel test" only works if the half shaft is disconnected. With the half-shaft connected, there's too much other "stuff" rotating to tell much about the wheel bearings. Also, with drum brakes, you really need to have the brakes shoes "out of the system, too. Basically, you need to be turning the spindle flange with the half-shaft disconnected to assess much about bearing condition.

              If Van Steel rebuilt these, I REALLY doubt that you have a bearing problem. They've been doing this for a LONG time and they have one of the best reputations in the business. They are also one of the few, if not only, rebuilder that carefully inspects new bearings before they install them. There could always be a failure, of course, but I really think the chance is near zero with their work.
              In Appreciation of John Hinckley

              Comment

              • Clem Z.
                Expired
                • January 1, 2006
                • 9427

                #8
                joe remember pasta over on the vetteheads

                had van steel rebuild his arms and as far as i know he has not found the clicking noise that showed up after the rebuild.

                Comment

                • mike cobine

                  #9
                  Re: Mid Year Rear Wheel Bearings

                  Watch the u-joints very carefully when you hit the drag spot. This could be a u-joint that is binding and not flexing as it should.

                  Comment

                  • Jim T.
                    Expired
                    • March 1, 1993
                    • 5351

                    #10
                    Re: joe remember pasta over on the vetteheads

                    I had a clicking noise on my 70 back in 73 after I picked it up at the Chevrolet dealership. Took it to the largest Dallas Texas Chevrolet dealership for what I thought was a bearing noise. Warranty work was completed and got new spindle bearings. The new clicking noise turned out to be the rotor moving the disc brake pads. The rotor rivets to the spindle were removed by the Chevrolet dealership personnel. Years later, thanks to Bairs rivetting the disc to the spindle I have had no problems for about 16 years.

                    Comment

                    • Dennis R.
                      Infrequent User
                      • April 30, 2001
                      • 13

                      #11
                      Re: Mid Year Rear Wheel Bearings

                      Everyones responses continues to remind me why I joined the NCRS in the first place--everyone helps each other out
                      Thanks for all the input--looks like I have some work to do on Sunday

                      Comment

                      • Joe L.
                        Beyond Control Poster
                        • February 1, 1988
                        • 43221

                        #12
                        Re: joe remember pasta over on the vetteheads

                        clem-----

                        Remember it? How could I forget it? That was the "mother of all problems". I don't mean Corvette rear problems, I mean ALL problems. It was the sort of problem where all possible solutions in the UNIVERSE wouldn't work. It reminded me, in a way, of the situation I once faced with the oil consumption problem on a small block. Reflecting on that problem was the only reason that I stayed with Al's problem as long as I did.
                        In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                        Comment

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