Question about torque tube bearing

Discussion in 'A boatload of fun' started by BuickMike, May 9, 2017.

  1. BuickMike

    BuickMike Well-Known Member

    Hi all. Knee deep in restoring my '59 LeSabre. When I took apart the driveline, there was a ton of grease sitting in the rear section where the bearing and u joint are. It just does not seem like it was supposed to be in there. Is that bearing supposed to be run dry?
     
  2. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    I seem to recall there was a grease nipple in the back, that greased the splines and shot grease all through the u-joint to the back. The whole assembly floats on splines; if it floats it needs grease. I haven't been able to find my book to confirm. Looking at an exploded diagram of the rear torque tube there is a gasket on the flange; that implies that something liquid or semi-liquid was there. The other thing is the torque ball usually leaked and transmission oil would get back there.
     
  3. BuickMike

    BuickMike Well-Known Member

    The nipple is for the u joint in the back. There is a bearing in front of that, and that is what I'm curious about. Since there is no way to get grease to that area, I'm guessing the pink goo in the driveline was a combination of trans fluid from a leaky torque ball and overflow from 40 some years of squirting grease into the U joint.
     
  4. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    From the sounds of it, that would be it. Torque balls are notorious for leaking. On my '46 Super the routine every spring was fill up the transmission and drain off the axle...my 60 Invicta wasn't quite as bad but it leaked transmission oil out of the strangest places which implied it was getting back there. On the plus side everything should be well lubricated...
     
  5. BuickMike

    BuickMike Well-Known Member

    Well, I found my answer the old fashioned way and dug through a 1966 Motor Manual that I have, which covers back to 1959. I finally found where it states that the propeller shaft bearing is a sealed unit and does not need external lubrication. Another odd thing is that the u joint is not accessible and the original does not have a zerk fitting. The access port is for the zerk fitting to grease the splines on the shaft that connects to the diff. I guess they are counting on the torque ball the dump enough fluid down the tube to lubricate all that.
     
  6. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Sealed bearing is correct...although I don't think they designed in an expected leak to lubricate the U-joint. I just replaced the bearing and U joint on my 60 last Summer. It was a royal pain in the ass. I hate torque tubes. I've had 6 or 7 apart in the last few years. It never gets any easier. At least I know what to do, now.
     
  7. 66electrafied

    66electrafied Just tossing in my nickel's worth

    Yeah, I guess the earlier torque tubes like on my 46 were a little easier, they didn't have the bend in the tube necessitating a U-joint and a bearing. It was just a straight shaft.
    and yes, I still have nightmares about taking one apart, that last time I did it was 30 years ago. Can't remember the exact process, but I do remember I swore I'd never do it again.
     

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