Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement On A 67 Vette

[Warren S.]

Has anyone replaced the rear wheel bearings without removing the riveted rotor from the spindle? I would prefer not drilling the rivets. I see the outer bearing race as a challange to remove with the rotor attached or is there a way of doing it? Re-assembling I see installing the outer seal being a problem or is there a way of doing it. I have replaced rear bearings before and haven't had a problem, but never with the rotor on the spindle. I have a service manual, but there is no reference to replacing the bearing with the rotor attached to the spindle. Any assistance with this certainly would be appreciated.
Thanks, Warren

[Joe L.]

Re: Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement On A 67 Vette

Has anyone replaced the rear wheel bearings without removing the riveted rotor from the spindle? I would prefer not drilling the rivets. I see the outer bearing race as a challange to remove with the rotor attached or is there a way of doing it? Re-assembling I see installing the outer seal being a problem or is there a way of doing it. I have replaced rear bearings before and haven't had a problem, but never with the rotor on the spindle. I have a service manual, but there is no reference to replacing the bearing with the rotor attached to the spindle. Any assistance with this certainly would be appreciated.
Thanks, Warren

Warren-----


It's DEFINITELY possible and I have recommended this method for years if it's feasible (e.g, rotor or spindle does not need to be replaced). GM recommends it, too. At least, they did after about 1973 when they finally figured out the problems generated by rotor separation. You can find the complete procedure in the 1974 Chevrolet Service manual. This procedure is exactly the same for earlier models although, obviously, GM did not revise the earlier service manuals (once they're created they never subsequently change them after the model year is over). I think you can obtain the 1974 manual through the NCRS Bookstore.

One thing, though: a few extra tools are required. They are described in the 1974 service manual. I don't know if these tools remain available from Kent-Moore, but I think they are.

By the way, I have used this procedure myself and it works just fine. It is more work than the old method which first involved separating the spindle and rotor.

[Warren S.]

Re: Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement On A 67 Vette

Thanks a bunch Joe, I do have a 74 service manual but wouldn't have thought to look in there. I will check it out tomorrow, it's too late tonight. The car is low miles so I don't think it is a bearing, I think something has come apart from the park brakes, but I have to pull the spindle to get to the brakes. I know that the park brakes can be got to with the rotor off, but again I don't want to drill the rivits. I have the drive axle and caliper off and while turning the rotor there is quite a bit of noise that sounds as if something is loose inside and it does tend to grabs periodically. This just happened today and I want to get to it as quick as I can.
Warren

[Wayne W.]

Re: Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement On A 67 Vette

I do it all of the time. The problem is installing the outer seal.

If you do it with the trailing arm off the car where you can get to a press, it is very easy, You just use the press to do the assembly all at the same time like the factory did it. The seal is already installed and both bearings, shims etc. go in at the same time.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement On A 67 Vette

I do it all of the time. The problem is installing the outer seal.

If you do it with the trailing arm off the car where you can get to a press, it is very easy, You just use the press to do the assembly all at the same time like the factory did it. The seal is already installed and both bearings, shims etc. go in at the same time.

Wayne W. (and Joe L.) I don't have the '74 shop manual, and I'm a little puzzled on how to get this together. I have the bearing breaker to remove the outer bearing from the spindle (with the 2 jacking screws) while it is still on the riveted disc.

So (assume trailing arm is off and a hydraulic press is available). Do you install the outer seal in the bearing support, then insert the disc/spindle assembly through the outer seal; then slip the outer bearing on the inner end of the spindle ? I suppose you could pipe press on the bearing spacer to seat the outer bearing; then continue to load the correct shim and inner bearing and press all together. Have I described this accurately ?

[Joe L.]

Re: Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement On A 67 Vette

Wayne W. (and Joe L.) I don't have the '74 shop manual, and I'm a little puzzled on how to get this together. I have the bearing breaker to remove the outer bearing from the spindle (with the 2 jacking screws) while it is still on the riveted disc.

So (assume trailing arm is off and a hydraulic press is available). Do you install the outer seal in the bearing support, then insert the disc/spindle assembly through the outer seal; then slip the outer bearing on the inner end of the spindle ? I suppose you could pipe press on the bearing spacer to seat the outer bearing; then continue to load the correct shim and inner bearing and press all together. Have I described this accurately ?

Wayne-----

The tool you describe for removing the outer bearing from the spindle is an aftermarket tool and not the Kent-Moore tool for that operation. However, it works very well and, in some ways, is easier to use than the Kent-Moore tool. Overall, I like it better than the K-M tool.

As far as assembling the rotor/spindle assembly to the bearing support, it's very simple. You first install the new cups (outer races) for both the inner and outer bearings. Next, you install the packed outer bearing. Then, you install the outer seal. Finally, you pull or press the spindle/rotor assembly THROUGH the outer bearing. If the trailing arm is in the car, you use Kent-Moore tool J-24490 to PULL the spindle through the outer bearing. If it's out of the car, you can use a press to PUSH the spindle through the bearing.

After doing this you install the spacer, shim and packed inner bearing on the spindle shaft and press the bearing on using a press (if the trailing arm is out of the car) or again using tool J-24490 (if the trailing arm is installed on the car).

The one thing that you have to be especially careful about is that you don't dislodge the outer seal after you pull or press the spindle through the outer bearing and before you get the inner bearing fully pressed into position. With a little care, though, you can easily avoid dislodging the outer seal; there's really no "trick" to it, at all.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement On A 67 Vette

Wayne W. (and Joe L.) I don't have the '74 shop manual, and I'm a little puzzled on how to get this together. I have the bearing breaker to remove the outer bearing from the spindle (with the 2 jacking screws) while it is still on the riveted disc.

So (assume trailing arm is off and a hydraulic press is available). Do you install the outer seal in the bearing support, then insert the disc/spindle assembly through the outer seal; then slip the outer bearing on the inner end of the spindle ? I suppose you could pipe press on the bearing spacer to seat the outer bearing; then continue to load the correct shim and inner bearing and press all together. Have I described this accurately ?

Install and seat the races. Set up the bearings on a dummy shaft or tool. Place the outer bearing and seal in the bearing support, with all of the grease that you want. Then place the spacer and shim on the shaft. Then place the inner bearing on the shaft. With the rotor side down place the assembly on the press and press it all at the same time using a pipe or similar tool. Then install the inner seal and dust shield.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement On A 67 Vette

Install and seat the races. Set up the bearings on a dummy shaft or tool. Place the outer bearing and seal in the bearing support, with all of the grease that you want. Then place the spacer and shim on the shaft. Then place the inner bearing on the shaft. With the rotor side down place the assembly on the press and press it all at the same time using a pipe or similar tool. Then install the inner seal and dust shield.

Thanks, Wayne -- OK, now its becoming clearer. So I guess if you don't attain the desired .002 to .004" endplay after pressing, you just push the assembly out [outer seal pops out without damage ?] and vary shim thickness accordingly. I say this as I've heard that these dummy shafts/tools give hit-and-miss results (or maybe just the operator ).

[Wayne W.]

Re: Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement On A 67 Vette

Thanks, Wayne -- OK, now its becoming clearer. So I guess if you don't attain the desired .002 to .004" endplay after pressing, you just push the assembly out [outer seal pops out without damage ?] and vary shim thickness accordingly. I say this as I've heard that these dummy shafts/tools give hit-and-miss results (or maybe just the operator ).

I dont use the tool. I use an old shaft, but I dont see why they wouldnt work. I would assume operator error. I make sure the clearances are correct. You dont want to be pressing it back out.

[John H.]

Re: Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement On A 67 Vette

I covered the method Joe and Wayne discussed, in great detail, in a photo-illustrated feature tech article on replacing rear bearings in the May, 2007 issue of "Corvette Enthusiast" magazine.

[Joe L.]

Re: Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement On A 67 Vette

Thanks, Wayne -- OK, now its becoming clearer. So I guess if you don't attain the desired .002 to .004" endplay after pressing, you just push the assembly out [outer seal pops out without damage ?] and vary shim thickness accordingly. I say this as I've heard that these dummy shafts/tools give hit-and-miss results (or maybe just the operator ).

Wayne----


I always use the Kent-Moore tool. It will work perfectly, but there is an "art" to using it---it's not as straightforward as it may seem. The fellow that taught me how to use it has done literally THOUSANDS of these 63-82 trailing arms over about 30 years.

I do not attempt to set up the bearings at .001" end play or less, though, as some folks do. I shoot for .002"-.003" as measured using the tool. If one uses the available GM shims, one may not even be able to get this close. I also NEVER adjust the shims. One can obtain shims in .001" increments from International Axle.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Rear Wheel Bearing Replacement On A 67 Vette

I covered the method Joe and Wayne discussed, in great detail, in a photo-illustrated feature tech article on replacing rear bearings in the May, 2007 issue of "Corvette Enthusiast" magazine.

John -- gotta see this magazine; a visit to Barnes & Noble is on my "to do" list while driving stateside in 2 weeks.