MsVetteMan

It was definitely the right rear wheel bearing. After replacing and getting everything back on the car.....man it was quite! Thanks for the help guys, and it only set me back about $90. Now its time to get that engine running right!

P.S.....I skipped the parking break install after 2 frustrating hours trying to get it back in.....don't use the dang thing anyway.

MotorHead

How did you change a rear wheel bearing for $90 ? Could yo go into a little detail of what you did "

cruzzin-style

You can do it for that price, maybe less, if you do the labor yourself. Changing out rear wheel bearings isn't that hard, if you know how & got the right tools.

MsVetteMan

Actually I could have done it for around 35 bucks (parts) if I didn't have to take the dropped spindle in to get the outside bearing cut loose. He also put the new bearings in and pressed everything back together, and dialed them in to .002. It was some work, but worth every penny!

isosceles

did you have to use a press for that repair?

MsVetteMan

I didn't and I broke everything lose but the outer bearing. It was a bear, but I did it with some "free" pullers on loan from autozone. I don't know if my hired help had to press anything back together or not, but I don't think so. I had to take the assembly back to him because he toque'd the spindle nut so tight on the flange that I couldn't get it off. He also had the shield out of position. I watched him break the hub of with a really nice puller, straighten the shield, and then beat it back with a piece of pipe.

The worst part of the whole thing was breaking the spindle hub loose from the trailing arm after 24 yrs. of smelting action. The shock arm removal was also a PITA.

MotorHead

So I guess you can do it for $90 if you have $900 worth of pullers, presses etc ?

MsVetteMan

Read again.....pullers were a free loan from autozone if you put a deposit down for them. Return them, and get your money back. Not a bad deal, but I did buy my bearing stuff from them, and this, and that, and.....now that I think about it, I probably spent about 60 bucks with them.....but go ahead and pay that 300-400 charge + shipping, plus all the down time to let someone else do them.....lol.....I like my money to much!

MotorHead

OK I read it again and you also took it to someone to do half the job did he work for free ?

erock825

Ive done both sides on my vette i found heating the old bearings up makes them tap out with a hammer easily i was surprised how easy the new bearings go on you dont need a press just a heat gun NOT A TORCH a heat gun and some vasoline but for sure i would buy that setup tool but thats all the money on special tools youll need

MsVetteMan

Motor head....do you have a comprehension problem?

Whats your problem? Jealous? Oh....you paid 400 + didn't you....lol....

Here's the ticket....(for the second time)

Bearings and parts $35.00
Mechanic..............$ 55.00

Total....................$90.00

The biggest expense in the whole thing is labor, and most of it comes from removal and re-installation of the the spindle assembly. I took the assembly to him completely broken apart, other than the outer bearing. My mechanic probably spent all of 1 hour cutting loose the bearing, pressing in new bearings, and reasembling the spindle hub/spindle unit (not putting it on the car).

GGeeeeezzzzzzeeeee.....some folks!

Hey, but go ahead and spend your bucks, I don't care....

.

MsVetteMan

BTW motorhead....I'm just trying to save some folks on this board some money. The job wasn't easy, and on a PITA scale, I would rank it right up their a 9 or 10. When you are trying to break lose 24 year old rust seized spindle hubs from a trailing arm, and trying to beat out a shock mount that was in the same shape, it ain't easy.

Again, thanks to those that offered advise and helped me. I'll try to do the same for others that can appreciate it......As for this thread, I'm done.

turtlevette

Amen brouther

i'm with you.

everyone thinks you have to spend a ton of money to have these bearings done by someone with some special majic but it ain't so.

I acutally take some sandpaper to my shafts and slip fit the bearings and toss the spacer. Makes everything extremely easy for the next time.

They all say my head is gonna explode and i will die, but i have a whole lotta miles on the car with this setup and i'm a still kicking.

cruzzin-style

I'm with U..........I did both sides of my Vette (wheel bearings.). But, I figured, since I'm saving a "ton" of money doing it myself, I just went ahead & replaced both spindles while I was at it. Also, I purchased all of the removal & installation tools off of e-bay for a fraction of the cost the vette places want for them. That way I own the tools & can do any wheel bearing job now. So, for those of you's who want to pay somebody else to do 'em...............I'm now that "somebody".

cruzzin-style

Drop spindle....in the rear? They make drop spindles for the rear of vettes? Or did I read that wrong?

MsVetteMan

lol....dropped as in removed from the hub.....

And I thought I was done.......lol....

cruzzin-style

OK.....gotcha. I'm always lookin' for ways to "slamm" mine to the ground & tuck tire (Hell, tuck rim if I can).(L*O*L*) Have a good one!

djcwardog

Good job! With this project done it sounds to me that you have the skills and persistence needed to do much of the engine work you posted about on your "$1500 to spend" thread. Keep at it! Of course, now I would want to spend another $90 and do the other side - figure it will go soon?

brooksman9

Driving a Vette in Mississippi...........priceless.

Yeller81USNRet

Glad you got the problem Solved and for cheap....