During a trip over the weekend I approached a red light and I hit the breaks of my 67Special. I heard a rattling and screaming noise that sounded like braking w/o brake pads. I turned off the radio and started listening to my automobile. I gently pushed the pedal and the car did started crawling forward with an awful noise that hurt my ears, so I turned to a parking lot just 50m down the road? I hardly made it there, got off my car, walked around it and found my right rear wheel parked half a meter away from the car........ Now that looked scary. The shaft was still inside the housing but apparently only inches from completely falling out...... Had it transpoted back home by insurance truck. After assessing the situation it seems bearing and retainer ring are there but let loose of the axle shaft. Did this happen to any of you guys before? i guess I need a new bearing/retainer but what about the axle itself? Do you recommend a new one or could the one still be good despite the chassis applying a lot of force with unusual leverage?? It seems that this wasnt smart GM engeneering that all the force relies completely on one retainer ring. let me know what you think will post pic later patrick
If you are referring to the collar that helps hold the bearing to the axle, it is pressed on with a great deal of force. If it came off then chances are the axle is bad and a new bearing/collar will not hold. Inspect the axle for damage/wear. It will surprise me if you don't find any. I'd also take a good look at the inside of the housing tube where the bearing resides. If that is gouged up you might as well look for a different rearend for the car.
Yup, I was referring to that "collar", someone called it "retainer ring". The last time we did a bearing and collar we were told 20tons of force is needed, that is a lot! Axle and housing "appear" fine to me, but I understand that these axles have to have exact measurements so I will give it to a shop to doublecheck. Where can I find the required measurements? What is a natural (and well supported) axle-upgrade for A-bodies?
Honestly, I have no idea what the OD of the axle should be. Perhaps someone here has one or can measure one for you. The bearing and collar are an interference fit, meaning they are a bit smaller than the axle so they basically stretch over the axle tightly. Perhaps a machine shop could give you some specs on how much smaller it should be than the axle. .003"-005" o No: If member "Monzaz" doesn't see this post, try contacting him. He will know for sure.
Ditto what Golden Oldie said. Monzaz is the man to contact. If you have an 8.2, your choices might be limited and an upgrade to an 8.5 would be a possible route. I defer to an expert though.
I know Monzaz from last May where I had to exchange my left rear axle bearing (and the whole axle itself in the end). It really seems this design is not trustworthy.
If you are having issues, maybe it is your housing or axles that have been abused. I know I've never had an issue with any of my Buick housings and axles. It feels more secure and stable than the Chevy model with C-clips and alot easier to repair.
Thanks for your feedback Greg. It would surprise me if this car has been abused. She looked unmolested and still has the 300 engine and the saggy st300. But then you never know with 40+ yrs old cars..... I figured the Chevy c-clip design would have prevented the axle from falling out, wouldnt it? Good to hear you had no issues with Buick axles. Maybe it is the 67 design that is weak or I was just having bad luck. Nobody else who had comparable experiences???
The stock rear in your 67 would have bolt in axles, making something like this far less likely. The Chevy C clip rears only have the C clip holding the axle in. If the bearing was improperly installed, or the axle was excessively worn in that area where the bearing was, I could see this happening. Was it making noise prior to this, or did you notice anything? In any case, I'd inspect and replace parts, including the axles.
No noise, no rattling, no nothing. It came totally out of the blue (unlike last year when the left bearing failed causing a lot of noise). That's what scares me......
Very surprised that you have no sheet metal damage! Do you have more pictures - especially of the bearing retainer plate, bearing, and retaining collar? In those pictures, it would seem the retainer is still bolted in place and both the collar and the bearing (also pressed on) would have had to fail.
IMO this style axle retainer is far stronger and reliable than the c-clip style. Chances are the bearings were wore, had been replaced improperly before you got it and or was low on oil causing excessive heat. This is the same style axle retainer as the famous 9" Ford. I have ran numerous 9" rears and have abused them/destroyed them and IMO they have an overall great design. The axles i have lost were due to low oil or water intrusion from off roading and of course oversize tires. But, i also bent axle housings and still ran them for long periods of time with no issue. I also twisted off axles at the splines and still drove out of the woods without the axle walking out. On one occasion i twisted the pinion out the front of the housing leaving a hole big enough to put a soccer ball in the housing, the damage was bad enough to drain all the oil and when it broke i was in about 4' of mud/water. So needless to say the bearings were not properly lubed. I still drove the truck home about 10 miles on the front axle and never lost an axle. So, have a look at you housing for damage. Personally i would find another axle, i am sure your is bent. Check the housing at the end of the tube where the bearing race is. If it appears ok just change the race and put a new axle with new bearings in it. Would not hurt to replace the wheel bearings in the other side while you are at it.
As requested pics of axle, bearing and collar (I know not put back on the axle in the right order...;-). Nothing seems broken or excessively worn. The axle just slided out the door like this.....??? The bearing reads RW507C which is - to my knowledge - the correct number for a 67 Special. Collar doesn't show a number. Would the axle have a number? Where?
I don't see how that could happen without either the axle or bearing being severely worn. If that was my car, I'd replace everything.
Is this all there is? IS this the exact way the axle came out? the bearing then the retaining ring then the retaining plate? Please confirm...
