65 corvette trailing arm re assembly

[Dave K.]

I am in the process of rebuilding my trailing arms and ran into a problem pulling the outer bearing down on to the spindle shaft. I am using the Corvette America spindle centering tool to push the spindle bearing assembly down over the spindle but am running into high resistance load from the outer bearing sliding down the shaft. Using the Timken bearing kits

[Joe R.]

Re: 65 corvette trailing arm re assembly

The tool listed in their catalog is the X2478 and it is used to pull the spindle into the bearing already sitting in the spindle bearing housing. After the outer bearing race is installed in the bearing housing and the seal is in place the tool pulls the spindle along with the outer and inner bearing inner race. The spindle along with the inner and outer bearing should be set for clearance before installing the spindle in the bearing housing. The setup tool is part number X2435.

JR

[Dave K.]

Re: 65 corvette trailing arm re assembly

The tool listed in their catalog is the X2478 and it is used to pull the spindle into the bearing already sitting in the spindle bearing housing. After the outer bearing race is installed in the bearing housing and the seal is in place the tool pulls the spindle along with the outer and inner bearing inner race. The spindle along with the inner and outer bearing should be set for clearance before installing the spindle in the bearing housing. The setup tool is part number X2435.

JR

Joe,

I used all of the listed tools. Should you expect to require a lot of force on the tool nut to press the outer bearing onto it's eat?

Dave

[John L.]

Re: 65 corvette trailing arm re assembly

Dave
Yes my guess is around 100 ft/lbs to get them moving - helps to have hub very clean and light Assembly oil

[Richard G.]

Re: 65 corvette trailing arm re assembly

I have on occasion had to resort to using a press.
Is this the first side? Move to the other side and give it a try if you haven't already.
The shaft size can vary on the originals by .0005 and it makes a huge difference on the force required.
I remember have a spectacular difficulty removing an axle bearing. After getting it apart, by resorting to using a 50T press with some innovative fixturing, the two axles measured differently. I put the one axle in the lathe and matched two axles. Yes they were both withing specifications. Mechanics that remove the interference fit, to make the repair easier, are ignorant of the mechanical requirements.
If you have the tools check the shaft size(s). I consider having the undersized shaft, to confirm the correct the bearing clearances, a mandatory tool for this job.
Bearing bore sizes are almost always exactly on size. I did this professionally and in 40 years may have found one bearing out of tolerances.
Rick