Front wheel bearings - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

70short · 12-19-2007, 09:16 AM

What is involved in doing A front wheel bearing re-pack? What all do I have to remove? 1970 C-10 2WD. Thank You!!!

BCOWANWHEELS · 12-19-2007, 02:15 PM

wheel, hub dust cap, cotter pin, 2 caliper bolts ( allen head from back of caliper, 1 top & 1 at bottom ), spindle nut, hub-rotor assy, then hub comes off, place on 2 pieces of wood ( outside bearing race up ) and carefilly instert long punch through hub on inside bearing ( not on the cage of bearing but outer race ), drive out inside bearing and seal, clean hub and old bearings very good, inspect for bearing & outer race wear-damage, put a 3 finger load of grease in palm of hand and push side of bearing into it until grease comes out opposite side ( both bearings ) put 1/4" grease completely inside hub and on races, install new seal ( CR BRAND double lip is best ) install outer bearing and put hub back on spindle, tighten spindle nut tight then back it completely off and retightem it until you feel light pressure when you turn rotor, then tighten it until you can install new cotter pin, put 1/4" of grease in dust cap and gently reinstall it, check disc brake pads before you reinstall them, put wheel back on. drive it a few miles and recheck wheel lug nuts. about 1 hr per side to do. starting fluid is great for cleaning hub & bearings. ( no smoaking )
hope this helps
bob

68gmsee · 12-19-2007, 03:24 PM

For some reason I thought the 70's had front drum brakes.

But procedure is still the same. I just had to do mine earlier part of the summer in my 69 Chevy. Some people highly recommend synthetic grease. I used regular wheel bearing grease that I've had in a can for about 10 years.

Only thing I do different is to fill the dust cap half full before I reinstall it. Not sure why, just been doing it since a teenager.

ChevLoRay · 12-19-2007, 03:53 PM

I bought a bearing packer from NAPA that lets you use a grease gun and drive the grease into the bearing with the hydraulic pressure that the gun generates, if you don't want to use the grease in palm method.

Andy4639 · 12-19-2007, 03:58 PM

Factory 1970 truck does have drum brakes on the front. Disc's didn't start until 1971. Procedure is basicly the same though.

BCOWANWHEELS · 12-19-2007, 04:59 PM

sorry 70 trucks do have drums my goof. if you have trouble getting drums off you have t back brake shoe adjustment off ( hole in bottom of backing plate ) pull small rubber plug, take flat screwdriver and rotate star untill you can slide drum off.
bob

**VetteVet** · 12-19-2007, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70short

What is involved in doing A front wheel bearing re-pack? What all do I have to remove? 1970 C-10 2WD. Thank You!!!

The boys have pretty well covered it. A couple of things I'd add, if you have trouble getting the drums off then just back off the adjusters that spread the shoes. The drums get a ridge behind the shoes as they wear and make it hard to remove them. Also don't put too much grease in the rear bearings or it may get hot and leak out on the axle and get on the shoes and drums giving you brake problems. My best recommendation would be to get a Haynes manual for 67 through 87 chevy and GMC trucks No. 24064. It covers any maintenance on these trucks and for $20 bucks or less it's the best money a guy can spend.

BTW are you in the Boise ANG? I was in the Battle Creek ANG.

12-19-2007, 09:16 AM	#1
70short Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boise ID Posts: 609	Front wheel bearings What is involved in doing A front wheel bearing re-pack? What all do I have to remove? 1970 C-10 2WD. Thank You!!! __________________ "72" Red CORVETTE 4-speed 350 "70" Chevy Short Bed early stages of resto. Edel 600 cfm carb Weiand Stealth Intake HEI shorty Headers 4/2 Drop 295 50R 15 TOYO on 10 inch wide corvette rally rims at all 4 corners. "CHEVY RULES"

12-19-2007, 02:15 PM	#2
BCOWANWHEELS Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: KINGSPORT,TN. Posts: 3,035	Re: Front wheel bearings wheel, hub dust cap, cotter pin, 2 caliper bolts ( allen head from back of caliper, 1 top & 1 at bottom ), spindle nut, hub-rotor assy, then hub comes off, place on 2 pieces of wood ( outside bearing race up ) and carefilly instert long punch through hub on inside bearing ( not on the cage of bearing but outer race ), drive out inside bearing and seal, clean hub and old bearings very good, inspect for bearing & outer race wear-damage, put a 3 finger load of grease in palm of hand and push side of bearing into it until grease comes out opposite side ( both bearings ) put 1/4" grease completely inside hub and on races, install new seal ( CR BRAND double lip is best ) install outer bearing and put hub back on spindle, tighten spindle nut tight then back it completely off and retightem it until you feel light pressure when you turn rotor, then tighten it until you can install new cotter pin, put 1/4" of grease in dust cap and gently reinstall it, check disc brake pads before you reinstall them, put wheel back on. drive it a few miles and recheck wheel lug nuts. about 1 hr per side to do. starting fluid is great for cleaning hub & bearings. ( no smoaking ) hope this helps bob __________________ I BELIEVE IN JOHN 3:16 Last edited by BCOWANWHEELS; 12-19-2007 at 02:17 PM.

12-19-2007, 03:24 PM	#3
68gmsee Active Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Centrally located between Houston, Austin and Waco. BCS area. Posts: 7,947	Re: Front wheel bearings For some reason I thought the 70's had front drum brakes. But procedure is still the same. I just had to do mine earlier part of the summer in my 69 Chevy. Some people highly recommend synthetic grease. I used regular wheel bearing grease that I've had in a can for about 10 years. Only thing I do different is to fill the dust cap half full before I reinstall it. Not sure why, just been doing it since a teenager.

12-19-2007, 03:53 PM	#4
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Front wheel bearings I bought a bearing packer from NAPA that lets you use a grease gun and drive the grease into the bearing with the hydraulic pressure that the gun generates, if you don't want to use the grease in palm method. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

12-19-2007, 03:58 PM	#5
Andy4639 Old member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Liberty, & Garden City S.C. , U.S. Posts: 19,945	Re: Front wheel bearings Factory 1970 truck does have drum brakes on the front. Disc's didn't start until 1971. Procedure is basicly the same though. __________________ 1971 LWB Custom, 6.0LS & 4L80E, Speedhut.com GPS speedometer & gauges with A/C. 20" Boss 338's Grey wheels 4 wheel disc brakes. My Driver Seeing the USA in a 71 Upstate SC GM Truck Club 2013,14 and 2016 Hot Rod Pour Tour http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Get out and drive the truck this summer and have some fun! It sucks not being able to hear! LWB trucks rule, if you don't think so measure your SWB! After talking to tech support at Air Lift I have found out that the kit I need is 60811. Per the measurements I gave them. Ride height of truck inside spring and inside diameter of springs.

12-19-2007, 04:59 PM	#6
BCOWANWHEELS Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: KINGSPORT,TN. Posts: 3,035	Re: Front wheel bearings sorry 70 trucks do have drums my goof. if you have trouble getting drums off you have t back brake shoe adjustment off ( hole in bottom of backing plate ) pull small rubber plug, take flat screwdriver and rotate star untill you can slide drum off. bob __________________ I BELIEVE IN JOHN 3:16 Last edited by BCOWANWHEELS; 12-19-2007 at 05:01 PM.



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