Rear wheel bearing failure AGAIN!!

Discussion in 'Got gears?' started by 436'd Skylark, Sep 22, 2019.

  1. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    Not my buick but my 66 Jetstar. Its a small block car with the 8.2 rear. I am replacing the rear wheel bearings every 5k-7k miles. It's driving me nuts. I believe this is a typical bop 8.2. Maybe someone can offer some insight.

    Here is what i know-
    Normal bolt in axles with a sealed bearing.

    Both sides have been failing

    The car has 2 new moser axles due to the failures ruining the old axles.

    Both new axles have had bearing failures...

    The bearings still have a press fit to the axle.

    The car wears tires perfectly and tracks arrow straight.

    Im wondering if the bearings need to be shimmed somehow? Maybe there is too much clearance from the retainer to the bearing?

    This is driving me nuts!! Anyone?
     
  2. Nailhead

    Nailhead Gold Level Contributor

    Fresh bearings or old stock? If the latter, maybe the grease has solidified or cooked out of them.
     
  3. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Have you checked axle end play? There are incorrect seals out there that are thinner.
     
  4. philbquick

    philbquick Founders Club Member

    Who's pressing them on? If the press isn't pressing down squarely it could distort the inner race, which will cause the bearing to fail and elongate/stretch the retainer which will prevent it from retaining. I made a tool that is a 4" long piece of 3" diameter aluminum with a hole bored in it the exact diameter of the axle and a relief bore in one end the inner bearing diameter. This way the bearing and retainer will always be pressed on squarely even if the press isn't square.
     
  5. Quick Buick

    Quick Buick Arlington Wa

    Had the same type issue. It was tire & bearing waring . Housing was bent.
     
  6. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    I haven't messed with the seals. The seal is in the axle housing in front of the bearing. The bearing is sealed. I am beginning to lean towards too much end play though. Ive never read any kind of spec though.

    I've pressed the all the bearings with no issue. I spent a few years at working at the machine shop and have done the job hundreds of times. The moser axles came assembled too.

    As mentioned the car tracks perfect with no tire wear whatsoever.
     
  7. Quick Buick

    Quick Buick Arlington Wa

    Your housing is tweaked.. I went through 3 sets of bearings before the tires really started to show mass wear.. I thought I was getting junk bearings at first.
     
  8. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    Sorry for the double quote but you have my gears grinding. I seem to remember way back when that the original bearings were thicker than the replacements. Maybe the original bearings were 1" wide and the new ones were 3/4" I remember noticing it and thinking the new bearings were simply cheaper. I wonder if the full size cars got a wider bearing than the intermediate cars due to the extra weight and only the smaller bearings are available.. this would give me more endplay. There doesn't seem to be much endplay, maybe the axle is hitting the diff pin and the bearings are not seated in the axle tube ?

    Anyone have an old parts book?

    The jetstar is fairly unique. It's the only fullsize that has intermediate brakes (9.5x2) and a 5x4.75 wheel pattern. It was the cheapest fullsize car in the gm lineup for 65 and 66.. it's been tough to get the correct parts for in the past.. most assume its a delta 88.
     
  9. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    I'll measure the wheelbase tomorrow on both sides with a tape. If it doesn't make consistent I'll put it on an alignment machine at my buddy's shop. It's been 50 years, I'm sure the old girl has some stories to tell.
     
  10. Nailhead

    Nailhead Gold Level Contributor

  11. wkillgs

    wkillgs Gold Level Contributor

    Or are axles a hair too long? That could put a preload on the bearing.
     

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