63-82 rear bearing grease tool

[Boyan B.]

Has anyone used this tool that does not require major disassembly of the rear bearings? I am familiar on how its used, I just want to know if anyone has used it and what kind of results they had. Obviously, the bearings have to be in good shape for it to work at all.

Thanks,
Boyan

[Gary R.]

Re: 63-82 rear bearing grease tool

waste of time in my opinion. I've taken spindles apart that were greased with this tool and the inner bearing wasn't touched. In that case the old grease was hard packed. Others arms had little to no grease in them so new grease was going to make any difference at that point.
I recently rebuilt a set of T/A off a 1970 and 1966 that were never apart before. Both were near dry,bearings burnt, the '66 had an inner cage completely rotted away.
I also won't slip fit bearings,which would make repacking them a possibility. A press fit setup will not allow repacking as most likely the bearings will be wrecked removing or they're already bad.
It comes down to rebuilding if you really think you have an issue.
Good luck

[Gary R.]

Re: 63-82 rear bearing grease tool

I went and copied the picture from the '66 I just did. Here you can see the inner bearing before I tapped it out. The well is dry and the bearing looked together. These were the original Hyatt bearings.




Here it is after I picked up the arm after tapping out the bearing. The spindle was removed so just the seal and shield were holding it in place.



Close up look



I thought I had pictures of another bearing setup that the grease tool was used on, clearing showing the Damm of hard packed grease stopping the new grease. I couldn't find it.

[Boyan B.]

Re: 63-82 rear bearing grease tool

Thats exactly what I wanted. I have to service a 44,000 original mile 66 and was thinking the tool might be an easier way. I was obviously wrong. Looks like I will need to disassemble and it will get new bearings too.

Thanks.

[Joe L.]

Re: 63-82 rear bearing grease tool

Thats exactly what I wanted. I have to service a 44,000 original mile 66 and was thinking the tool might be an easier way. I was obviously wrong. Looks like I will need to disassemble and it will get new bearings too.

Thanks.

Boyan-----


In my opinion, whenever the rear bearings are are removed, they should be replaced regardless of how many miles are on the vehicle since last removal.

[Rich W.]

Re: 63-82 rear bearing grease tool

Are we talking about the tool that you put in place of the outer yoke?..I bought one of those from MAM after my left rear exploded..I think it should work at least for the inner..it shoots grease right into the bearing itself just like my wheel bearing packer..now if your talking that a car from 66 just needs greased I wouldn't go there..it would be an easy way to keep the bearing greased and in good condition once replaced..my outer still had grease on it..so from my one humble bearing explosion it seems the inner takes the brunt of the abuse.

Rich

[Boyan B.]

Re: 63-82 rear bearing grease tool

Yes, I am talking about the tool that replaces the yoke and shoots grease in. Sounds like it wont put grease into the far end bearing unless it filled the spindle support full of grease. Doesnt sound like anyone has had any good luck with maintaining bearings with that tool.

[Rich W.]

Re: 63-82 rear bearing grease tool

Oh I agree it would be a silly thought that it would do anything to the outer bearing..I think the key is maintain..unless cars are driven the grease will dry out..I mean over years..it sounds like your car is in that catagory..replace the bearings and you get another 40 or so years out of them..I use the tool just to make me feel better though ..I have only had my car for a year..so I can't say that it will extend the bearing life..but to have a wheel bearing explode at highway speed is something I don't want to repeat..or wish on anyone..so if there is a chance that this tool will at least keep my inner bearing packed then I will use it..plus it only costs 15$..my car sat for 12 years before I got it so I didn't have much of a chance for maintenance so I start the clock over last May when I rebuilt the spindles...btw I got 62k on mine when the bearing gave out.

Rich

[Joe L.]

Re: 63-82 rear bearing grease tool

Oh I agree it would be a silly thought that it would do anything to the outer bearing..I think the key is maintain..unless cars are driven the grease will dry out..I mean over years..it sounds like your car is in that catagory..replace the bearings and you get another 40 or so years out of them..I use the tool just to make me feel better though ..I have only had my car for a year..so I can't say that it will extend the bearing life..but to have a wheel bearing explode at highway speed is something I don't want to repeat..or wish on anyone..so if there is a chance that this tool will at least keep my inner bearing packed then I will use it..plus it only costs 15$..my car sat for 12 years before I got it so I didn't have much of a chance for maintenance so I start the clock over last May when I rebuilt the spindles...btw I got 62k on mine when the bearing gave out.

Rich

Rich------


At least 3 problems with the greasing tool:

1) As has been noted, the outer bearing cannot be greased. If one pumps enough grease into the support to get to the outer bearing, one has to fill the cavity with grease (not a good thing) and can cause the outer seal to dislodge;

2) While one can pump grease into the inner bearing, one cannot CLEAN the bearings. Grease is composed of an oil + a soap. After long service what one usually has left is the soap (the "cakey" stuff); the oil has "departed". So, what one does with the tool is install fresh grease into a bearing full of old soap;

3) How does one know that the grease they are installing is compatible with the old grease/soap? Greases have different bases (part of the soap) and, if mixed, they need to be the same or, at least, compatible.

[Rich W.]

Re: 63-82 rear bearing grease tool

Joe you are making me enjoy the NCRS site very much..you bring up great points..you are right about not being able to grease the outer bearing..if you pumped that much grease in there it would use hydraulic pressure to pop out the outer seal and probably use a tube of grease to do so..what I found with my bearings on both sides is that the outer still had grease on them..I assume since most wheel bearing setups the inner takes the most stress..making the inner bearing bigger..the outer is just there for the turns..so I am not sure if not being able to grease the outer being really a big deal..I use mobil one synthetic grease so I am not sure the soap thing applies to me..and since I am the one doing the grease install I can control what I put in there..I started with the mobil one and still have it in the grease gun now..what I did notice is that this tool shoots the grease right into the bottom of the bearing cage..so it pushes out the old grease..as long as you don't go crazy with it it shouldn't be a problem..I think to if GM thought it would be necessary to have to grease the wheel bearings alot they would have come up with a way to do so..they only used this design for how long...did they ever change it thru the run..like I said though it does put my mind at ease when I am driving the car.
Rich

[Michael W.]

Re: 63-82 rear bearing grease tool

.I think to if GM thought it would be necessary to have to grease the wheel bearings alot they would have come up with a way to do so.

Rich, they did- there's a note in later manuals to disassemble and grease the bearings at 30,000ish mile intervals.

[Duke W.]

Re: 63-82 rear bearing grease tool

The 30K mile repack was for the early slip fit design and is specified in the 1963 Corvette Shop Manual.

This maintenance requirement was eliminated with the final press fit design that went in to production in early December 1963, but at that point the Shop Manual was already published.

Using a full synthetic wheel bearing grease will minimize oil evaporation relative to a conventional mineral oil based grease, and if an overhaul is done correctly, the job should last for 25-30 years.

Duke

[Steven B.]

Re: 63-82 rear bearing grease tool

I bought one of the tools when they first came out to help do a friend's '66. After using the tool we decided to tear the TA apart andcheck how well it did the job. Much as already described. About 20% had been greased, old grease had blocked flow and the bearings all needed repalced.

[Jim T.]

Re: 63-82 rear bearing grease tool

Boyan I bought the bearing grease tool about 1974 and have never used it.

Did not have a membership until many years later as I owned two C3's. So do not get the Resorter until I joined many years later. Do not know how many articles had been submitted on the C2 and C3 rear wheel bearings.

I later purchased the Kenmore tools to remove the rear spindle, bought a supply of GM shims, and a dial guage. I remove and repack my C3's bearings.

I still have the original rear bearings in my 68's but not my 70. The 70 has a lot more road miles.