Rear wheel bearing question

[pontiacgp]

when the bearing goes bad it usually takes the axle shaft out with it. the rollers roll on the shaft and they destroy it when the bearing goes. if you have another car to drive then i would take it apart first and then examine the axle shafts. you might need a "repair bearing" instead of a standard bearing and seal.

Most " Saver Bearings" I have installed on peoples cars were because the seal wore a groove in the axle and would not seal anymore. The Saver Bearing is a seal and bearing in one and places the seal in a new location on the axle.

a rubber seal cannot wear a groove in a metal axle. The bearing canwear a groove in the axle and that's why an axle saving bearing can be used. The axle saving bearing runs on a section of the axle further out on the axle.

 

[84cutlass383]

how did they come to think it was the rear wheel bearings? have you tried a different set of <A class=vglnk title="Link added by VigLink" href="http://motors.shop.ebay.com/eBay-Motors-/6000/i.html?_nkw=tires&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_rdc=1" rel=nofollow target=_blank vglnk_1323352418348="2">tires</A>?

They told me there was alot of play in the wheels, and i looked up videos of bad wheel bearings on youtube and it was exactly what was happing with my car. it gets louder when i let off the gas too. i didnt use a new set of wheels but I balance and rotated the tires, i also opened up the rear to look at the posi and gears and they checked good. the first shop said they had on the lift and got it up to speed, would that eliminate the tires being bad? Thanks for the info guys, do u think i should get new axles?

 

[pontiacgp]

I wouldn't get new axles till you see the condition of the ones you have.

 

[RITTER]

A rubber seal can, in fact, rub a groove in a steel shaft. It is very common with SBC crankshaft noses, where the timing cover seal sits :idea:

 

[pontiacgp]

A rubber seal can, in fact, rub a groove in a steel shaft. It is very common with SBC crankshaft noses, where the timing cover seal sits :idea:

I have never seen an axle seal wear a groove into a steel axle and I've worked on countless rear ends, the ones that don't wear t backs..

the harmonic balancer however is not made of the same grade of steel the axles are made of. The crank nose does not sit on a seal. The crank in the rear does sit on a seal and I have never seen a crank with a groove in it from the rear seal

 

[RITTER]

A rubber seal can, in fact, rub a groove in a steel shaft. It is very common with SBC crankshaft noses, where the timing cover seal sits :idea:

I have never seen an axle seal wear a groove into a steel axle and I've worked on countless rear ends, the ones that don't wear t backs..

the harmonic balancer however is not made of the same grade of steel the axles are made of. The crank nose does not sit on a seal. The crank in the rear does sit on a seal and I have never seen a crank with a groove in it from the rear seal

ahhh, I stand corrected. It would be the balancer that I was refferring to. Thanks for the correction and clarification "pontiacgp"
I guess it makes sense that the axle shaft is made of a higher grade of steel :idea:

 

[pontiacgp]

Ritter, thanks for bringing that up about seals making a groove in metal. My new front seal leaked a bit and it never crossed my mind that the balancer may be worn..

 

[RITTER]

Ritter, thanks for bringing that up about seals making a groove in metal. My new front seal leaked a bit and it never crossed my mind that the balancer may be worn..

YaY me 8) haha

I think there is enough room in there to maybe pull the seal out a little bit, just to change its position on the balancer :idea: Maybe, not positive on that. Or if you can get like an offset seal, double-lip or something. I'll flip through my seal book if I get a chance and see what I can find

 

[chevy2480]

They sell a seal with a repair sleeve just for worn balancers. I have used them before.

 

[pontiacgp]

thanks chevy, I didn't know that...Ritter, I'm yanking the engine this winter to install a windage tray, pump baffle and a roller cam so I'll be doing it then..