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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Queen Creek, AZ
Posts: 551
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Can someone school me on wheel bearings?
I am replacing my first pair of rear drums/shoes on my 69 2wd and curious about the wheel bearings.... How can I tell if they are bad? Should I be greasing them? Easy to replace?
I know nothing about them and would love some input. Thanks for your time. Weev- Posted via Mobile Device
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Weev- Life's tough...... It's even tougher when your stupid - John Wayne |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Re: Can someone school me on wheel bearings?
They are easy. Pull the cap of the hub, pull the cotter pin and remove the nut. Behind the first nut is the outer bearing, when you pull the wheel hub off the second is on the back. Check the bearings out, if there is no slop or excessive wear just grease them up and put them back in. They don't cost all that much, so if you just want to replace them with new. Go a head.
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Joseph Joe's 69 GMC http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=543253 1969 GMC SWB-350 SBC 700R4 2013 Ram 2500 CC Laramie Longhorn Edition-6.7 PPEI EFI Live CSP5 5” ProFlo Exhaust |
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#3 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Stuart, Florida
Posts: 459
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Re: Can someone school me on wheel bearings?
The rear bearings are inside the rear axle, ie the axle bearings. Just check the gear lube lever in the rear end, maybe change it if it's never been done. Your front bearings however are a completely different and should be cleaned and re-packed every few years and at least checked every year.
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1970 CST LB Fleetside, 402 BB, PS, PB,AC 1968 Firebird 400 conv. 1965 Chris Craft 17' wood ski boat (SN #0001) |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Re: Can someone school me on wheel bearings?
custom1970 is correct. I read over you REAR statement. Have to read a little more careful next time.
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Joseph Joe's 69 GMC http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=543253 1969 GMC SWB-350 SBC 700R4 2013 Ram 2500 CC Laramie Longhorn Edition-6.7 PPEI EFI Live CSP5 5” ProFlo Exhaust |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Leesburg, VA
Posts: 420
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Re: Can someone school me on wheel bearings?
Subscribed.
I need to do this too and have never done it before. I'll be watching this thread for tips.
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Curt 1970 C/10, 250 L6 with Rochester BV carb, SM465 4 speed, 3.73 open rear |
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#6 |
Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Stuart, Florida
Posts: 459
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Re: Can someone school me on wheel bearings?
What tips do you need? The bearings (front) are easy, the drum brakes can get a little tricky. Just make sure you buy a old drum brake tool/pliers and only do one side at a time so you can see how everything goes back together.
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1970 CST LB Fleetside, 402 BB, PS, PB,AC 1968 Firebird 400 conv. 1965 Chris Craft 17' wood ski boat (SN #0001) |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Leesburg, VA
Posts: 420
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Re: Can someone school me on wheel bearings?
Well, I don't want to step all over weever's thread, but I think this is all related information so I hope he doesn't mind.
So the rear bearings are lubricated by the gear oil in the rear differential - there is no user maintenance required besides keeping the gear oil filled? And on the front bearings, when you say to inspect, clean, and repack them, how do you know if they're excessively worn? And how do I repack them with grease? And what kind of grease should I use? Appologies to weever82, and thanks to everyone for the help.
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Curt 1970 C/10, 250 L6 with Rochester BV carb, SM465 4 speed, 3.73 open rear |
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#8 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 7,912
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Re: Can someone school me on wheel bearings?
Quote:
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#9 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 7,912
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Re: Can someone school me on wheel bearings?
The easiest way to determine the condition of your bearings is sound. Of course, with the brake drums on, you hear the sound of the shoes dragging on the drum, so the time to check is once you pull the drums off. You should be able to turn the axles by hand and they should turn relatively smoothly without much noise. If they feel rough or sound gritty, it's probably time to replace the bearings.
While you've got the drums off, take a look at the seals. After 40+ years, they might be leaking. Also look for leaking from the wheel cylinders, which is the other source of moisture/grime/slime inside the drum. |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Queen Creek, AZ
Posts: 551
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Re: Can someone school me on wheel bearings?
No worries Curt! That's how we learn.
So the rear axles have to come out to replace the bearings? Maybe I will replace/fill my gear oil to be on the safe side as well. Posted via Mobile Device
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Weev- Life's tough...... It's even tougher when your stupid - John Wayne |
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#11 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Orem, Utah
Posts: 7,912
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Re: Can someone school me on wheel bearings?
The rear axles have to come out to replace the bearings and the seals. They are c-clip axles, so you have to partially disassemble the rear end to get them out. Basically, there's a rod that goes through the spider gears to hold the axles in place. A threaded pin with a 1/2 head holds the rod in. Remove the pin and slide the rod out - be careful not to lose the shims inside the spider gears. Once the rod is out, push in slightly on the outside of the axle and rotate it until the c-clip falls off. Slide out the axle and you now have access to the seal and bearing.
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#12 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Queen Creek, AZ
Posts: 551
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Re: Can someone school me on wheel bearings?
Quote:
Weev- Posted via Mobile Device
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Weev- Life's tough...... It's even tougher when your stupid - John Wayne |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Junction City, KS
Posts: 782
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Re: Can someone school me on wheel bearings?
Rear axles have to come out to check them.
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Joseph Joe's 69 GMC http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=543253 1969 GMC SWB-350 SBC 700R4 2013 Ram 2500 CC Laramie Longhorn Edition-6.7 PPEI EFI Live CSP5 5” ProFlo Exhaust |
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