Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

[Bradley D.]

I have a 67 roadster, 327/350 4-speed.

Today I took a short drive and began to hear a grinding, clunking, and a bit of a squeal coming from the right side.
When I got back home, I had the wife back it out of driveway and back in. I could definitely hear a grinding, and clunking
coming from the rear wheel.

I then took off the right rear wheel and visually looked and the brake caliper, pads and rotor. All seemed in near new condition.
(previous owner had done this).

I then figured it must be a wheel bearing. Ugh. This seems real bad. I read the 67 service manual and well, got real queasy. I then searched various
vendors for 'rear wheel bearing' and Corvette Central just has you send in old parts to be refitted/replaced. After reading the service
manual I can see why.

Questions are:

Is it really a wheel bearing?
What else should I consider to be causing the sounds?
This does not appear to be a DIY Sat afternoon project. Lots of special tools needed.
Do I look for a repair shop in my area?

Thanks for your help.

[Jim T.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

Brad go to page 30 in the latest edition of the NCRS Driveline and view Bair's add or view www.bairs.com. It does take special tools to remove and replace the rear spindle. I have done it and I have the tools. If you can remove your trailing arm and send it to Biars, they provide shipping boxes.

[Don H.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

Brad, As Jim said it sounds like the wheel bearing but without further checking you can't be 100% sure. If you take the half shaft loose and pull the caliper off the rotor then rotate, that will give you a better idea what is going on. Most will advise to send it out but a competent "do it yourselfer" can do it. Good luck, Don H.

[Gary R.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

I wrote this several years ago, has a ton of pictures and info to read up on before you make a decision on what you're going to do. Make sure it's not a parking brake, u-joint, or trim ring issue.

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77000

[Bradley D.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

I wrote this several years ago, has a ton of pictures and info to read up on before you make a decision on what you're going to do. Make sure it's not a parking brake, u-joint, or trim ring issue.

http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/foru...ad.php?t=77000

Thanks Gary, your pictures were a great help. I had decided before to send them out and your description confirmed
my thinking. Some things I can and want to do, but this job exceeds my skill level by many points.

[Paul J.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

Brad, based on your description it is most likely the wheel bearing, as previously mentioned. Bair's was mentioned, but I believe that Gary also does this work (although there is something that he doesn't do and I can't remember what it is).

Paul.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

Brad,

Take a look at this thread in the archives:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...=Wheel+Bearing

It was best for me time-wise to buy new trailing arms on my 67. If you are going to do one side, you should also do the other.
Take a look at the link in the thread about what happened to me on the road. The whole story is in the Summer 2009 Restorer- my Top Flight Adventure

[Bradley D.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

Brad,

Take a look at this thread in the archives:

https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...=Wheel+Bearing

It was best for me time-wise to buy new trailing arms on my 67. If you are going to do one side, you should also do the other.
Take a look at the link in the thread about what happened to me on the road. The whole story is in the Summer 2009 Restorer- my Top Flight Adventure

Jerry thanks for the great link to some old threads and the pics. I did a search earlier on 'wheel bearing' and got so much other stuff I couldn't look at all of them. Never got close to the your 08 thread. Glad you remembered it. I need to get it on a rack and take a closer look to be sure. Probably a week away from doing that. I kinda like the idea of complete new trailing arms.

[Justin A.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

Brad,
There is no issue rebuilding your arm to like new again. For example we replace the bearing, T-Arm bushing, all stainless park hardware (steel shoes) rear rotor with rivet holes and if we rebuild your arms they are painted, if you buy ours that are already done they are powder coated. We also replace the backing plates with the real reproductions, they are heavier gage sheet metal like the originals and the part number is stamped in them and they are the correct color. We build them in house, if you would like to talk about it you can call me. Bairs also does a great job as well as Van Steel and Ikerds. The wheel bearings are a very common failure with these cars and they really need to be setup properly or else you can cause more severe issues down the road.
Justin
Zip Products.

[Tom L.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

Brad, I can't hear your noise over the internet but before you pull the arms it may be worth checking the parking brake springs. I had one break and it made similar sounds. Have fun!!

[Ralph S.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

I will second that i also had a parking brake spring rust out and broke and made a squeaking grinding noise.

[Bradley D.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

I will second that i also had a parking brake spring rust out and broke and made a squeaking grinding noise.

Well two with the same issue gives pause to look into that. Been on road for a few days and now will get back to my problem, thanks you two.

[Gary R.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

I would check the parking brake but keep in mind if the rivets are still in the rotors then you will have to drill them out to access the parking brake shoes. If the rotors come off without a problem that is a good sign but be careful they are not hung up on a shoe.

If you want to get an idea on the bearings, disconnect the 1/2 shaft, pull up the caliper off the rotor and that will leave the spindle isolated so your noise will be in either the parking brake or bearings. The spindle should rotate smooth, no noise, no binding, no lateral play. Grab a wheel stud and see if you can push/pull on it and how much. If you have a mag base and dial indicator then you can measure it.

One thing to consider is if you find the rotors riveted on, no one was in there since assembled, and they spin smooth there could still be issue with the grease. I took apart a virgin set of mint '66 arms last year and the grease was gone. What was left was a wax like residue and once the car was driven would have burnt the bearings.

Good luck

[Chris E.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

Brad, I just had a similar problem on my wife's Jeep. When driving, the car would make a grinding sound. I had her pull up on the parking brake ONE NOTCH and the noise went away. That told me (without taking anyting apart) that it was the parking brake and not the wheel bearing.

I jacked the car up in the air, pulled the wheel off, and took the caliper and rotor off. The parking brake had somehow gotten jostled out of position such that when the lever inside the car actuated the shoes, it pushed one shoe OUTWARD TOWARD THE LUG NUTS, and not toward the perimeter of the wheel. A little bit of hammering and it was back in place, and the wheel was a quiet as a church mouse again.

FWIW.

[Bradley D.]

Re: Grinding noise from right side rear wheel

Well took the left side apart, and the parking brake is fine, but when rotated the bearings definitely had a flat spot.
As suggested by others I have chosen to get a new set of complete trailing arms.
Not all of my components were original so the decision was easy.
Question. what is the value of the 'core' of the old trailing arms, the right side is okay,but obviously has wear?
Thanks for all the input, it did provide valuable guidance.