fst_c3

I replaced the front ones, never done the rear before. Is there any thing special about the rear bearings I should know before I start tearing into it?

:smash:

norvalwilhelm

The rears are nothing like the fronts and require special skills and tools. It is not a normal saturday job. To have it done is also very expensive.
If you are mechanical inclined it is doable but be prepared to work.

Dalannex

Do a search for wheel bearings, or rear wheel bearings as the topic title, search in archived topics and you'll get a whole page of information.

-Justin


[Modified by Dalannex, 7:37 PM 8/10/2003]

IBEAM700

Here is kinda what your looking to replace he rear bearings. I’m taking mine to Vansteel this week to have em rebuilt. Oh, you WILL need a slide hammer to get the bearing assembly out of the trailing arm. My half shafts each had a bad U-joint, so check em while it’s apart.


























Here you can see the person that replaced the wheel bearing last time striped out the threads on the spindle, and used a regular nut instead of a castle nut with a cotter pin.
I really wonder sometimes about these people that do sub standard work…




Have Fun... :D :chevy


[Modified by IBEAM700, 10:39 AM 8/17/2003]

GTR1999

That spindle looks almost as bad as the one I just replaced on a 75. The last "Mechanic" used a torch to cut out the spindle flange to get to the parking brakes. Also rolled the threads on the spindle and smashed them good. Charged the guy who owned the car $1,600 for one set of bearings and rear bushings. As Norval said they are doable depending on your mechanical experiece. You'll need a press and some special tools. Do a search and you should fine a lot of info on the procedure.
Gary


[Modified by gtr1999, 6:54 PM 8/17/2003]

Gary79

these are do-able, cuz I did mine myself in '99. do lots of research. i used the haynes and chilton manuals, along with my own ingenuity. I used a gear puller to pull the inner bearing off, and used 3 different chisels to slowly tap or "walk" the outer bearing up the shaft. i used the two old bearing spacers, taped together and a 2lb mallet to drive the outer bearing back on. you'll need a run-out indicator to set the bearing tolerance. i local machine shop provided me assistance in this area, my bearings are set at .003". good luck! this is also a good time to check your trailing arm bushings and u-joints. check your end play on the yoke axle shafts sticking out of the differrential. I've put slightly over 7,000 miles on my bearings, no problems, knock on wood!!!

76Stinger

Just a quick word of warning. If your bearings are already scraping/groaning/binding or just making noise, be prepared to find them melted and fused on the spindle. Just had mine done by a local source and he ended up torching one side off. The bearings and spindle had become as one :eek: I will add a pic later.

I ended up with a total bill including all new bearings & seals, shims, spacers, etc. ( both sides ) + 1 spindle ( courtesy Gary Gruhala ) right about $540 including all labor. Plus my mech did a perfect alignment on the rear - much better than the local tire shop had done. My car actually rides good now - I never knew it was this smooth. Only problem was on the way home, I ran out of gas. Sitting beside the road waiting for my wife to bring me some gas, 2 C-5's pass by and don't even act like I am there. I am out in the middle of nowhere and they can't even look. I would stop for a Ford if I thought someone was in trouble or needed help. A black 80 came by and was about to stop as my wife pulled up. Kudo's to him if he reads this.

Anyway, I digress. Good luck with your bearings.

STW

:seeya
Robert
76Stinger

Corvette ED

Buy rebuilt arms from Van Steel, install them and save yourself a lot of headaches.

Yeller81

Well being stubborn and not listening I have mine out of the trailing arm and need to go to a shop and have the spindle pressed out and have the bearings removed. If the spindle is shot then to Van Steel or somebody to get them already done and then just bolt em back in.
I am a slow learner.

:steering:

groovyjay

I just finished doing mine, already had them done by a local shop, but there were too much play in them, so I took them apart and did it my self. I made a special too I used to get them off and on. It is a PITA job for us who are doing it for the first time, now that I know how it's done it's not too bad. :cheers:

IBEAM700

The Saga Continues:
Called Vansteel yesterday and found out they will be at a car convention all this week, so im stuck until next Monday.
I went ahead and changed the differential fluid today. I’m sure all of you know that our vettes don’t have Diff. drain plugs, so I used my vacuum pump to remove the oil.

If you’re like me and can’t afford a 300.00 dollar vacuum pump you can make your own out of an old refrigerator compressor. Checkout the internet for plans to build one. It’s really easy, and you can also use it for working on you’re A/C system.





The oil that came out of the diff. must have been factory because it was real dark, and very thin in viscosity.





The driver side bushing was almost gone, and the passenger side bushing was completely gone. Not one piece of rubber to be found anywhere on the passenger side trailing arm.
Hmmm, maybe that’s why it always went Clunk when you put it in gear. :lol:








Need a new bump-stop on theis side.





Here is the additive you’ll need when changing the diff. fluid. Almost 12.00 dollars at the Chevy dealer. :eek:






[Modified by IBEAM700, 12:19 PM 8/29/2003]

IBEAM700

Just an Update.
Had the T-Arms rebuilt by Van Steel. Highly recomended vendor. They did a great job.












:chevy :chevy

GrandSportC3

I got offset trailing arms with new bearing assemblies from Van Steel.. and they rock!!! :cheers: :cheers:

76Frankenstein

Is that the new Spal brake cooling fan setup in the first pic ? :jester

Paul L

I am sure readers very much appreciate the time you took to document that work. Thanks!

IBEAM700

:lol: Yeah, you like it? Don’t go getting any ideas, im working on the patent right now. :cheers: