Ok... so lately I was feeling a rumble when turning and under initial accelleration coming from the rear end. I posted here and most replied that it was most likely the axle bearings. we autozone brought in the bearings, retainers and seals for me. Also got a new diff cover gasket. I put the car on blocks yesterday and they came out easier than I expected. Found a local shop that will press off the old and on with the new bearings etc for $20 a side. I thought that was reasonable. Here are a couple pictures of my progress so far, will post more as the week continues.
How did the bearings look/feel once you got the axles out? I went through the same thing last year - the results are nice & quiet! Devon
The bearing on the passenger side seemd ok, it was tight, smooth and no lateral movement. The drivers side had plenty of lateral movement, so I think this was causing the rumble I felt when turning under slow acceleration. **** now if I could only get the smell of gear oil out of the garage ****
curtis: is your rear end the regular 8.5 ? if so can u let me know the part#s for the bearings, seals and retainers? tkx
part numbers.. .hmmmmmmm I dropped the axles off today with the new bearings, seals and retainers... and I doubt i will get the boxes back once the new parts are installed. It is the regular 10 bolt rear orignal to the car. I posted that Autozone had the parts, but it was actually Advance Auto parts that had them locall. If I get the boxes back I will post part numbers....
MR. Safety Hey, GREAT LOOKING RIDE. Also wanted to complement you on how safe you are by blocking the car up with those large wooden blocks. I dont think its going anywhere. I run the School Bus Mnt. dept. for Biloxi Mississippi and I'm real strict about Shop safety. Have heard many Horror stories of Vehicles falling on Mechanics and other People at home. Also $40.00 is A fair price on the Axle Brg. installation. Too bad you dont live here , Ide do them free for a fellow Buick GS owner.
Most common '71-72 8.5 A-body axle bearing is the A9, & the axle seal will be the 712146. IF your '71-72 8.5 A-body r/e has the big square lugs on the bottom, it uses the A9's & 712146's. Be careful when buying the 712146 seals, as a huge batch of National 712146's were made that are not thick enough. My old stock of National 712146's were fine. Recently been forced to buy the Partmaster line of 712146's. Replacing a pinion seal, make sure & stay with National. IF the '71-72 8.5 A-body rear uses a round cover, not the typical cutout style rear cover, pull the axle & double ck the axle bearings. They might be A10's, as one round cover version uses A9's, the other version uses A10's. A10 axles require the larger diam A10 bearing & matching seal. Got Posi? :3gears: Roger
Might ck Dewey Little's earlier post, esp before the bearings get pressed on. Wait till afterwards, & the seals are the thin variety, will have to have the bearings pressed off again... that means cutting the press-on collars & buying another set of bearings just get another pair of collars :af: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=102219&highlight=712146 Here are pics he put up of the correct thickness 712146 seal & the thin 712146 seal. Good luck! Got Posi? :3gears: Roger
Looks like I have the right ones hopefully. I remember the brass colored part from the picture in the other post http://www.v8buick.com/attachment.p...tid=72989&stc=1
