Rear Wheel Spindle

[captras]

A couple of weeks ago I wrote regarding a noise coming from my rear wheels. Replies helped me know what to look for. Now I have a problem. The right rear has no play in it, but that is where the noise is coming from. I took off the rotor and started the engine and put it in drive. The right rear spindle does not turn true. There appears to have about 1/16 inch wobble in the hub as you watch it turn. The left side has slight play, but turns true with no noise. I have found a new rear spindle on ebay for $130 and a rear wheel spindle tool kit with puller and everything else I should need for about $200. I am fairly mechanically inclined but dont know how big a job it would be to replace the spindle myself. Any hints, suggestions, or tips as to whether it needs to be replaced, and if so, should I do this myself, or take it to a shop.

Thanks

Sorry, I have a 75 and realized I posted this in the wrong forum!

 

[captras]

A couple of weeks ago I wrote regarding a noise coming from my rear wheels on my 75. Replies helped me know what to look for. Now I have a problem. The right rear has no play in it, but that is where the noise is coming from. I took off the rotor and started the engine and put it in drive. The right rear spindle does not turn true. There appears to have about 1/16 inch wobble in the hub as you watch it turn. The left side has slight play, but turns true with no noise. I have found a new rear spindle on ebay for $130 and a rear wheel spindle tool kit with puller and everything else I should need for about $200. I am fairly mechanically inclined but dont know how big a job it would be to replace the spindle myself. Any hints, suggestions, or tips as to whether it needs to be replaced, and if so, should I do this myself, or take it to a shop.

Thanks

 

[like2drive]

I'm in the process of finishing up on having the trailing arms rebuilt with spindle/rotor. As I was learning about various concerns, one thing I learned to be cautious about was "run out" on the spindle/rotor set-up. This refers to the balance, or lack thereof, of the spindle/rotor combo that will manifest itself in causing the brakes to fade. VanSteel has a good discussion on their site about run-out. The point is: make sure the spindle/rotor set-up is within tolerances for "run=out" which i think is .0050.

Also, because the half-shafts are in a extreme angle, running the car in gear is a no-no...so I've heard....makes sense to me that the u_joints at least would be damaged. The wobbling spindle is probably damaged by the bearings which may mean a new spindle. If so, I would do both sides.

good luck

 

[crause]

I have already decided what I am going to do when the time comes for any spindle/trailing arms problem surfaces on my 75. I am going to pull them both off and send them for the rebuild (with stainless steel parts). Vansteel has the rebuild (complete) for $390 a side. I have seen them less expensive, like around $250 a side. The hard part will still be getting the front trailing arm bolt out. I hear it is a monster. Good luck

Andy

 

[gary79]

i wouldn't buy any parts until you get the trailing arms off, and the assembly apart, better yet, unless you've got a lot of patience, intuition, mechanic skills and time, i would pull the trailing arms and send them out to van steel's or bair's. i've rebuilt the suspension and bearings on my 79 and this took a lot of time, as i had none of the special tools for doing the bearings. it can be done their just isn't enough space here to explain the process. i used a local machine shop to check my run out, a rented 9 inch gear puller, 3 sizes of chisels to "walk" the outer bearing off the spindle, 3 hammer sizes, buckets and buckets of patience. it took me the better part of april 1999, working part time after reg work to get this right. my bearing tolerance is set at .003, and it took me forever to re-assembly the parking brake shoe assembly, about a week if i recall right. good luck

 

[Stingray6974]

Check out our forum sponsor Fastcorvette.com. New spindle 128.00. You can buy or rent the tools. Free shipping. Or just send in your arm and have it rebuilt for 285.00. That includes SS hardware, trueing the spindle, new wheel studs, bearings, seals, bushing, t-arm studs, e-brake shoes, etc.

Yes, I am directly affiliated with Fastcorvette.com. If you send in your t-arm I will be the person rebuilding it.

Mike

 

[Stingray6974]

Hi everyone,

As of 11/01/04 I am no longer affiliated with Fastcorvette. I have started my own company.
www.classiccorvetteparts.vstore.ca and am a supporting vendor here at CAC.
I personally do all the rebuilding.

Mike