trying to grease 1980 rear wheel bearing

[Keith G.]

What size are the 4 bolt heads that hold the U joint straps on a 1980, I have nothing that small. I have to go in town tonight and I don't want to make more than one trip. It is like T something, thanks in advance.

[Gary R.]

Re: trying to grease 1980 rear wheel bearing

Keith what is your plan to grease the bearings? Those grease tools are not the best option and really don't work. Properly setup, your bearings should go 80-100k miles. If they are original they should be rebuilt vs trying to grease them.

[Joe L.]

Re: trying to grease 1980 rear wheel bearing

What size are the 4 bolt heads that hold the U joint straps on a 1980, I have nothing that small. I have to go in town tonight and I don't want to make more than one trip. It is like T something, thanks in advance.

Keith-------


I realize that this response is probably too late to be of any use to you but, perhaps, it will be of use to others, now or in the future.

The answer to your question depends upon what transmission you have as different u-joints, straps, and bolts were used for auto versus 4-speed. As strange as that may seem, that's how it was for 1980-82.

For auto transmission applications, the bolts used for the u-joint straps were GM #14023500. These were a 1/4-20 bolt with a 12 point head. To remove or install these, one needs a 1/4", 12 point socket. A 1/4" 6 point will not work. 1/4" 12 point sockets can be a bit hard to find but they are out there. GM discontinued this bolt many years ago and replaced it with GM #12338087 which was also used on most C4's. The 12338087 has a conventional 6 point hex head, albeit smaller than the standard 7/16" across-the-flats hex used for most 1/4" bolts.



For cars with 4 speed, different u-joints, retainers, and bolts were used. The bolts were GM #458300. These are a 5/16-18 bolt. They have an external Torx head. Torx is a proprietary 6 point sometimes called a "star". These bolts require a T-10 Torx socket for removal and installation.

[Jim D.]

Re: trying to grease 1980 rear wheel bearing

Keith what is your plan to grease the bearings? Those grease tools are not the best option and really don't work. Properly setup, your bearings should go 80-100k miles. If they are original they should be rebuilt vs trying to grease them.

Gary is 100% spot on. Anyone that has ever actually rebuilt a trailing arm can easily see that those tools won't work.

[Keith G.]

Re: trying to grease 1980 rear wheel bearing

Thanks Joe, I thought I needed a T40 female socket, when you use a 1/4 inch wench with a short pipe strange things happen, I did end up using a 12 point wrench on them.

[Mark P.]

Re: trying to grease 1980 rear wheel bearing

Joe - I wish I had read your thread before messing up my 65 rag join clamp bolt when I removed it from my steering box. I used a Torx socket. All my good sockets are 6 point because I was tired of messing up bolts. I should have used a 12 point wrench. Live and learn. Your posts have been extremely helpful with my restoration of my 1960 and 1965. I never thought I would have two cars blown apart at the same time but I am progressing. Mark

[Joe L.]

Re: trying to grease 1980 rear wheel bearing

Joe - I wish I had read your thread before messing up my 65 rag join clamp bolt when I removed it from my steering box. I used a Torx socket. All my good sockets are 6 point because I was tired of messing up bolts. I should have used a 12 point wrench. Live and learn. Your posts have been extremely helpful with my restoration of my 1960 and 1965. I never thought I would have two cars blown apart at the same time but I am progressing. Mark

Mark-------


Torx drive did not even exist in 1965.