Indeed the instructions in the factory service
manual about how to remove the old bearings are ridiculous. I always just
take mine to a local machine shop and they simply press the old bearing and
retainer off the axle and press the new bearing and retainer on.
Additionally, I would recommend using good quality bearings. The cheap
bearings made in China will not last long.
I would strongly recommend replacing both
the inner and outer seals anytime you have to replace an axle bearing.
The number one reason that these bearings go bad in the
first place is that the inner seal fails which allows the differential
lubrication to contaminate the axle bearing or bearings. Unlike GM cars,
you don't ever want the differential lubrication to come into contact with the
rear axle bearings. The inner seal might look just fine but if any
differential lubrication has gotten to the bearing then it is bad. I would
never do this job without replacing the inner seals!
Strangely enough, I am doing this very job today on
a 1966 Chrysler 300 today!
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 3:52
PM
Subject: Re: IML: rear end questions
1969
Frederick Joslin <fljoslin@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
I am working on the rear end of my 69 LeBaron. Do the collars which
hold on the outer axle bearing come with replacement bearing or do you
purchase them separately and from where? Or if I take the axles to a machine
shop can they press off the bearing and collars to allow the collars to be
reused? Is this a good idea? The manual says to cut off the collars and
bearing races which is fine, but then I have no
collars.
Don't waste your time with the instructions from the manual for the rear
axle bearings. Just pull the axles and take them to the machine shop,
along with the new bearings and outer seals. The machine shop will press
off the old ones and press on the new ones. The machine shop I use in
Chattanooga, TN, charges $25 per axle for this job, and it's well worth
it. The outer seals are sold separately from the bearings. I think
the last set I bought came from Advance or AutoZone. The seals are very
inexpensive (i.e. don't try to reuse them). You could probably get away
without replacing the inner seals, but they're pretty easy to replace -- so
since you've got the axles out anyway, why not? :o)
Does anyone know where to get the adjuster hold down clip for the rear
axle bearing end play adjuster.
You will DEFINITELY want to find the clip, or else you'll be doing this
whole job again soon. I got one off of a parts car, but it may be
possible to find it new. For an example of one of my own adventures
in axle bearings, check out
http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/Axle/BearingFailure/
Good
luck!
Elijah
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