rear wheel wobble

[gmhowe]

Had the 85 up on stands just checking things out underneath and noticed the driver side wheel has about a 1/2'' wobble back and forth, lug nuts are tight so I am thinking wheel hub bearing. According to the Service Manual it doesn't look too tuff to do, and a couple of shops I checked around with want $600-700 which includes the part. Anybody replaced one of these things, or should I just spend the bucks to get it done ?

 

[Moonunit 451]

I have and you need the right tools including a big impact socket. You Can do it yourself. But how did you check if that's the real problem? Is there excesive play on the wheel in question?

 

[Achilles]

I had the same problem with my '86. My mechanic noticed the wobble while doing other work. I replaced both wheel hubs myself w/ AC Delco's for the price he was charging for one side. You need a #55 Torx bit, a 36mm socket and a torque wrench that goes up to 164 ft.lbs. for the spindle nut. Plan on a weekend to do both sides. However, I noticed once I changed mine out, I still had a wobble in the wheels. The control are bushings were worn out on both sides. After they were replaced, everything was tight. Check your control arm bushings, its a cheaper and easier fix.

 

[Achilles]

BTW, you might want to do a search in the Technical section for "wheel hubs". Check out Mart's post titled "Wheel Hubs or other". That should give you quite a bit of info.

 

[jsinga]

The bearing will fail long before it gets that much end play. You are seeing suspension wear. There's a camber rod on the bottom; toe tie rod assy; and 2 dog bone control rods. Most of them have rubber bushings.

Not to say the wheel bearings aren't loose there are specific tolerances for bearing endplay I think it's less than .006in

JS

 

[gmhowe]

thanx for the input I will pull the wheel and check things out Fri on my day off.

 

[gmhowe]

ok took off the wheel and it seems if I hold on to the rotor and move it back and forth it doesn't seem to wobble as bad, but if I move it from top to botom there is little play from the whole part but not where the spindle is but the part surrounding that so I am thinking its still the bearing hub.

 

[jsinga]

There is specific proceedure in the shop manual for checking end play.

From what I remember you support the spindle and put a dial indicator on the hub and pull it in and out.
You don't have to yank on it to check only the bearing end play. Everything else but the slight movement, as I recall service limit is .006in, is in the supension.
All together the looseness will make the car jumpy on rutted roads and it will wear you out on long trips.
A reasonable backyard wrench can do the bearings in a day. While you are at it change the halfshaft u-joints. Especially if you have vibration at highway speeds you can't seem to cure with tire balance. The reason I say this is you have to take the halfshafts out to get the bearings off.
I have had good luck with the PepBoys bearings I got with a lifetime warranty. Many people haven't. I don't think there many companies making the bearings. I'm pretty sure GM outsources them.
Just my $.02

JS

 

[Mart]

Just tuned in to this one, thanks for the notice Chickenjerk,
Here is the thread.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64234&highlight=Wheel+Hubs

It's not that bad a job but it is tight, and I'm a big guy so it was even tighter.

I did all the bushings while I was in there...

If ya need any tips just ask away.

Good luck
Mart

 

[Achilles]

I didn't have to take my half shafts off. the hub just slides off the end of the spindle. AC DELCO still makes their hubs and you can find them in Ecklers, I believe.

 

[gmhowe]

ok got it done, wasn't fun but it is done. I did notice that some of the bushings are kinda crappy so that will be my next project. The fun just never ends. but I love driving this car. not bad for a 85 with just under 80k miles. Thanx for all the tips and help guys