Rear wheel bearings questions

[Mike2500]

Hello, Mike here again.... I have concerns about when should the rear wheel bearings should be replaced? It's a 82 with 89,000 miles andI am about to do all the brake but I was woundering when should I start looking into replacing the bearings and is it a easy task?

 

[Hib Halverson]

At 89,000 miles and 30 years, it wouldn't hurt. What happens, regardless of mileage, over 30 years is the lubricant dries out and then the bearings fry...if they are not worn now.

Best way to assess rear bearing wear is to measure rear bearing freeplay. The max is .010" but anything more than about .008 is cause for concern.

Unfortunately, for DIYs servicing the rear bearings on a C2/C3 is a very difficult task. That's why companies like Van Steel and others have a good business in selling bolt-on, remanufactured rear trailing arm assemblies.

If you're interested in an insight to rear bearing service on 65-82 Vettes see:
Corvette Action Center | Tech | Hib Halverson's Big Block From Hell Series - Part 12

Because the rear bearing and rear brake set-up are interrelated, this article is just as much bout rear brakes as it is about rear bearings.

 

[GTR1999]

Mike
I have taken apart original 40 year trailing arms and found the bearings still not too bad and then others where they were seized on the spindles. A lot has to do with the way the car was used or stored. High mileage would be a concern and a car stored for years exposed to moisture is another. I had a arm in from Ca off a car that sat for years outside. The owner got the car going but heard a thumping sound out of the rear. He shipped me the arm and I found the bearing cone eating into the bearing race like a zombie! If the car was driven much like that the bearing would have seized and possibly broke the spindle. As Hib mentions check the endplay and rotor runout so you know where things are. How does it feel when you spin them by hand?

My opinion is if you plan on keeping the car and/or plan on driving it alot , rebuild the arms. You can email or PM me and I'll link you to my indepth thread with a ton of pictures on how to do this job correctly. Many places rebuild them,some do a good job others terrible- I've been sent enough of them to know and have a stack of pictures of the various things I've found with them.

Here is just a sampling of things I have found.

 

[Mike2500]

Thanks Hib & GTR1999 both of you have opened my eyes to whether or not I want to tackle this project since I do plan on keeping this Vette for a while. I am a pretty good DIY but this seems to look like a bear but not the impossible, and the photo's shed a lot of light on some of the problem I may face. How do you feel about Eckler’s rebuild service for $429 ea.?

 

[GTR1999]

Well there are a lot places selling T/A's so you want to know who is really doing the work and how. What parts are used, what procedures, USA bearings? you have some options and homework to do. Getting something fast is not always the best, good luck.

 

[Mike2500]

Well there are a lot places selling T/A's so you want to know who is really doing the work and how. What parts are used, what procedures, USA bearings? you have some options and homework to do. Getting something fast is not always the best, good luck.

I agree 100% and I look around before I make a decision.

 

[1yy07]

rear bearings

send them to GTR1999 and be DONE WITH IT if he will do the job for you

 

[herminator]

send them to GTR1999 and be DONE WITH IT if he will do the job for you

I agree with all of the above. After doing almost everything else to my '73, I decided to replace the rear brgs eventhough all seemed good.More research showed me I needed a rebuilt set or some professional help given the end play and pressing off and on issues. I did a lot of research and although Ecklers had a great sale going, I went with a local shop for the rebuild. He has all the tools and knowledge and has done a lot of work on C3's. Bearings were good but grease was dry as car had sat for 16 years. Check shipping prices if consider buying already built, shipping yours for rebuild or need to retuen cores. That became a cost factor for me.

 

[Bolisk]

You will need special tools if you plan to do this yourself. Sending them out is usually cheaper. Gary is the man on TA's. I used his procedures to do mine.

I did mine because I'm the type of person who gets more enjoyment working on my cars then driving them. . .i bit the bullet an bought all the tools on eBay, and did them myself. Cost me way more than $500, to do them. But , now I know how to do it.. . .and sence i just got my second vette. . .i should be able to break even when I do those.

 

[Ricochett]

Rear Wheel Bearing

Mike
I have taken apart original 40 year trailing arms and found the bearings still not too bad and then others where they were seized on the spindles. A lot has to do with the way the car was used or stored. High mileage would be a concern and a car stored for years exposed to moisture is another. I had a arm in from Ca off a car that sat for years outside. The owner got the car going but heard a thumping sound out of the rear. He shipped me the arm and I found the bearing cone eating into the bearing race like a zombie! If the car was driven much like that the bearing would have seized and possibly broke the spindle. As Hib mentions check the endplay and rotor runout so you know where things are. How does it feel when you spin them by hand?

My opinion is if you plan on keeping the car and/or plan on driving it alot , rebuild the arms. You can email or PM me and I'll link you to my indepth thread with a ton of pictures on how to do this job correctly. Many places rebuild them,some do a good job others terrible- I've been sent enough of them to know and have a stack of pictures of the various things I've found with them.

Here is just a sampling of things I have found.

Well im glad i stumbled across this question! because im doing some restoring on vette as well,and that is what i was thinking about doing myself
but wow....... looks like a pain in the butt...
I must say great job