<VV> EM rear wheel bearing grease fitting install?

[Ray Rodriguez III]

Tony,  

     I very greatly appreciate the help.  I was under the impression that it was a lot more difficult than this sounds, it'll really be a relief to get them taken care of.  A wheel bearing failure is nasty enough, but I've heard stories of what can happen when a rear one comes apart on an early!  I installed a dual MC but I'm no longer convinced that it will be very much help.  I live in the Pocono's and this car takes Missy back and forth to work up and down a nasty 3 mile hill.  

     On the same general topic,  when I took the fronts apart and repacked them I was sorta worried there was supposed to be some kind of rubber seal or something in there, is there anything like that?  I read something somewhere that made me think so and I found what might have been the remains of such a thing when I took them apart but it also may have just been hardened gunk.

Ray R.


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tony Underwood 
  To: Ray Rodriguez III ; virtual vairs 
  Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2011 12:03 AM
  Subject: Re: <VV> EM rear wheel bearing grease fitting install?

  Don't do the zerk fitting on an early bearing.   They come apart too easily to go to that sorta trouble.   Just remove the wheel, pop the drum off, remove 4 9/16 nuts and slide the axle out.   Make sure that side of the car is up so you don't drool gear lube out the transaxle.   There are two rivets holding the halves of the bearing housing together.   Cut them off and discard them, won't need to rivet the halves back together again seeing as how the nuts on the studs will do that.    Pry the bearing halves apart and flush out the bearing thoroughly with a good species of carb cleaner or brake-klene, your choice... stuff them with synthetic wheel bearing grease, reassemble.   

  It's also not a bad idea to (if you can) rotate the outer races 180 degrees and place a fresh load bearing surface where the bearing rollers can run against it.  



  Once you do the first one, the 2nd will be easier.   '60-'62 bearings have stamped housings, '63-'64 bearings have a cast housing with a stamped cover.   They come apart the same.   



    On a related note, how noticeable is the "rumble" or whatever when a wheel bearing is beginning to fail?  


  They announce their pending demise.   They start by rumbling... then advance to slicking and popping and sometimes screeching, by which time it's wise to stop immediately before the axle comes out of the car.   


  When you have the bearing shells split, check the rollers closely for pitting or flat spots.   If they look OK, grease up, reassemble, and go on down the road.  If they show wear, or minor pitting, do it all anyway and listen closely while you drive the car until you can turn up replacements.   


  tony..