Rear Wheel Bearing Question

[RedZR]

Gang,

I am installing AC Delco rear wheel bearings on my 91. The first one went on very easily. When I went to install the second one I found it was a very tight fit on the spline shaft. It was so tight that it would not slide onto the spline all the way (when I pushed it on by hand) and seat. I returned it.

The store did not have anymore so I ordered one from the Last Detail. It arrived today and I had the exact same problem. It simply would not go all the way onto the spline. The old one would slide on all the way but this one would not.

I used my dremel to "dress" the inside surface of the bearing that slides over the spline shaft. After cleaning it up a bit it would slide a little further onto the shaft but not all the way.

How tight should these things be? I know that if I reinstall the 36m nut I will be able to run the bearing back onto the shaft without a problem and it will seat ok- but it will be a pain to remove if I ever need to do so . Should that be the case?

I have a hard time believing that 2 AC delco bearings have the same fit issues but why did the stock ones slide on and off so easily- and the other side did also?

Thoughts?

 

[tyrel]

The only thing I can think of is corrosion on the spline itself. Have you tried cleaning it off a bit with a wire brush? When I did my bearings, the old ones slid right off and the new ones slid right back on, no problems. It just seems to me that you might have some kind of rust or something built up on the splines if the w/b isn't sliding right on.