Rear Wheel Bearing Problem

[arturo7]

I'm having a problem installing the rear axles. They are getting hung up on the wheel bearings with about 2" left to go before they are all the way into the diff.. Same thing on both sides. I removed the bearing and it slid over the axle without a problem. Also installed the old bearings and had the same problem.

Any thoughts?

forgot the pics, I'll add a couple tomorrow...

[NEWFISHER]

Bent housing?
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[mr48chev]

It doesn't sound like you are getting the spline on the axle to slip into the spider gears.
Are the spider gears in the correct position?

You may have to turn the axle a bit and grab the top of the flange with your thumbs and pull back with your thumbs while you push in at the bottom with your fingers to lift the splined end slightly to get it to line up with the inside of the spider gear.

[arturo7]

The spline is going in, just not far enough.

Just to be sure, I pulled the diff. It's definitely an issue with the bearings.

[mr48chev]

Ok what rear axle do you have? And besides bearings what have you changed?

[arturo7]

I assume it its the stock axle for the 59 1/2 ton. New grease seal, but all else is the same.

[1project2many]

You're sure the splines are engaging? It can take a bit of trial and error to get the axle into the side gears. There's a huge amount of leverage working against you.

Remove bearings and install axle into installed diff to ensure it goes in far enough. If axle goes into spline ok, and goes into bearing ok, and bearing goes into housing ok, then you probably aren't getting things lined up correctly.

[arturo7]

Originally Posted by 1project2many

You're sure the splines are engaging?

It's definitely something with the bearings. I removed the diff from the housing and the axles still get hung up.

[mr48chev]

I'd think that you possibly damaged the bearing when you installed it then.

[mr48chev]

I'm seeing a bearing that is pressed on the axle when I check the bearing number on O'Reilly's site http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0055&ppt=C0337

Is that the bearing you have? If so you have to take it to someone to have them press it and the retainer ring on the axle. It doesn't just slide on the axle or go in the axle housing like the C clip axles with the axle slipping into it.

Right now some photos of your axle shaft, bearing and the axle housing it's self would help us help you a lot. Plus photos of the old bearing if you have it around.

What exact steps did you go through to remove the axle shaft after you had the wheel and drum off? Did you remove four bolts or nuts that held the axle in place and then pull the axle or did you remove the rear cover and take out the spider pin and pull the C clips?

[_Ogre]

boy it's been a long time since i r&r'd a stock rearend, most older gm rearends are like 48 said
the only thing holding the axle in is the wedding band (aka retainer ring) and it has to be pressed on
you should have a 4 bolt flange w/seal, bearing and wedding band on the axle. in that order
even my 86 trans am rearend has wedding bands. the only rearends i've torn down with c-clips have ford stamped on them

i'd be curious to hear the step of tear down too

[1project2many]

I'm seeing a bearing that is pressed on the axle when I check the bearing number on O'Reilly's site

Thank you. That's what I was thinking this morning. He said he removed the bearing and it slid over the axle no problem and I questioned my memory.

even my 86 trans am rearend has wedding bands.

Dana rear?

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by 1project2many

Thank you. That's what I was thinking this morning. He said he removed the bearing and it slid over the axle no problem and I questioned my memory.


Dana rear?

I'm thinking that someone has swapped rear ends in the truck. This isn't going to work without some good photos to see what is going on.

[arturo7]

Here's a couple pics.

Bearing and seal in place



This is how far the axle will slide in without bangin' on it. The differential has been removed.

[1project2many]

That looks an awful lot like a C clip style axle bearing. Did you have to pull a rear cover and a pin to pull the axles out?

As far as install, have you tried without the seal yet?

[_Ogre]

seal? did someone say seal?



1p2m; mine is a borg warner, 9.25 if i remember correctly.
i worked at dana in the 80s, all their stuff had wedding bands.

arturo; that piece with the seal and bearing unbolt, remove it and take it to a machine shop with your axles to have the bearing installed correctly. i have a 59 truck shop manual it confirms that your bearing is held on with a wedding band. i'm curious as to how you disassembled the axles.

[1project2many]

Well, I've found enough time to look at the FSM. If all else fails RTFM. Anyway, the rear is a C clip type and the axles slide into the bearings, just like any other C clip axle. These axles do not have the bearing pressed on, nor do they use a flange to retain the bearing. Sorry for heading down the wrong road.

So it's down to individual components and tests. Do seals slide over axles? Do axles install in diff without bearings and seals? Do axles install in diff with bearings and no seals? Did you forget to remove the pin from the diff or is something blocking from inside the diff?

[mr48chev]

Well, that bearing is damaged as it is missing several rollers that I can see.

Now I have to ask some more questions.
1. did you remove C clips from the ends of the axles to get the axles out?

2. When you said you removed the center section did you remove the whole dropout from the front or pull the carrier and ring gear out the back?

3. do you have photos of the rest of it?

The way the seal is pushed in in middle rather than being flat straight across I think that you may have damaged both the seal and the bearing when you first installed them.

[arturo7]

Guess I didn't mention the vehicle is a 59 1/2 ton.

1p2m:
Yes, c-clip retainers on the axles. Yes, I've tried it without the seals.
Do seals slide over axles? yes
Do axles install in diff without bearings and seals? yes
Do axles install in diff with bearings and no seals? no
Did you forget to remove the pin from the diff or is something blocking from inside the diff? nope

Ogre:
Disassemble the axles? I don't think so? I was replacing the bearings and seals per the directions in the shop manual. What is it that unbolts? I see rivets but no bolts. What is a wedding band?


mr48:
bearing is fine, cheesy photo
1- yes, c-clips removed
2-diff completely removed
3-anything specific you want to see?

That seal was beat up a bit. The bearings however, look fine. I pounded on the seals to install the bearings. Additionally, the bearings slide over the axle freely on the bench.

Thanks for all of the input folks.

[1project2many]

Guess I didn't mention the vehicle is a 59 1/2 ton.

It's not that. My memory is getting old and I forgot the 55-59 axle was C-clip / removable diff hybrid. The older axle, and the Ford 9", don't use C clips. The axle bearing is pressed on the axle and the axle plus bearing are then installed in the housing as a unit. A flange is bolted to the axle outboard of the bearing to retain the assembly. In addition to the bearing, a small ring is pressed onto the axle shaft to help maintain axle position. The small ring is sometimes known as a wedding band. If curious, look up something like rebuild ford 9" axle for more info.

The service manual mentions an axle retainer positioned between the bearing and seal. Is this in place? Possibly the lips of the seal are getting wedged in the bearing if this is missing? Check the seal for damage and clues. Another suggestion is that the bearing is getting cocked in the housing somehow. Try partially installig the bearing then installing the axle.

Those old stamped tubes could bend fairly easily. How hard did the axles come out? Any signs of damage where a bearing wore into an axle? Are there marks in the axle housing that might indicate the old bearings were installed at an angle (this could indicate the tube is bent).

[mknittle]

I am thinking wrong or out of tolerance bearings. With the differential out the axles should slide right in. With parts being made in foreign countries by farmers who knows what you will get these days.

[arturo7]

I went ahead and bashed in one of the axles without the diff installed. Once it was all the way in it seemed to spin fairly easily. Guess I'll install the diff tonight, bash away and see what happens. Of course making sure the splines a lined up before employing the BFDBH.

wish me luck

[NEWFISHER]

BFDBH, my favorite tool

[OrrieG]

Last time I drove in an axle was on my BIL's roadrunner in the mid-70's. Bearings lasted about a month, turned out he had bent the axle tube. Axle was straight but the slight angle between the center line of axle and spider splines required force to get in the last few inches. It seemed to spin fine too, but hogged out the bearing real fast. If it went in that hard you will have fun getting it out. If it seems ok, drive it and keep looking for leaks around the bearings and seals.

[1project2many]

Last time I drove in an axle was on my BIL's roadrunner in the mid-70's. Bearings lasted about a month, turned out he had bent the axle tube.

Hence the question about marks / wear on the axle shaft.

I went ahead and bashed in one of the axles without the diff installed.

When the axle comes out, check for damage / marks indicating undue pressure on the axle shaft.