Hey Rodney,

Hey everyone interested..I got the spindle cleaned up and threads chased ready to go back together tomorrow night--the parts are only 15 minutes away at the Fedex hub,,but I have to wait untill they deliver it,,I don't want to wait anymore! Any ideas on how to install the rivets to rotors???They are pretty hard steel ,,??


Spindle pic

(changed large image to link)
Adams' Apple2010-06-28 19:46:35

The rivets were originally installed with a super large hydraulic press, and dies./bucks.
Why do you wanna put rivets back in? They're not totally necessary. I can't remember ever hearing of anyone going thru the hassle to put them back in once they were drilled/removed. I suppose it could be done, tho.

I have no idea why I want to they are just there! I bought them can't be that hard to press down..I think I am really bored and like the abuse!

I hear ya...
If you do it, you'll have to make sure the rotor, AND the spindle hub are perfectly clean of any rust/dirt/funk. Then, you'll need to secure the rotor to the spindle hub fairly tight before pounding/pressing the rivets. You could use the lug nuts installed backwards to do that.
IF you do decide to put them back in, please document the process with some pics, and post them here for the rest of us to see...I'm curious to see how it turns out.

Well the story continues--I got my parts and tools from well a sponsor of this site and found a bunch of bearings and seals made in China and Tiwain--WTF.  also missing the bearing set up tool that was orderedit's not like these parts were cheap in price so I thought I would get something good-DENIED-  I called  local parts guys that I have accounts with and I found Timken bearings and seals are cheaper than the ones I ordered-and they are made here!  I really think the car deserves better than China knock offs.  Oh and since that set up tool that was supposed to be in the box and wasn't I have to wait till Friday now to put it all back together..I guess they will get there stuff back as quik as I get the tool from them..other than the tools which are excellent and high quality I wouldn't have ordered anything else from them if I knew what I was getting, a real let down.  I don't mean to bash them to much because the people I have talked to on the phone have all been really nice and somewhat knowledgable..BTW I did talk to a guy there that claims to have worked on corvettes for the last 36 years and he has never put the rivets back on the spindles??So why do they sell them..I will do it just to make it the way it left the factory back in 1969..even though I will be the only one to appreciate the end game.I made a tool today for my air hammer that will make quik work of it..It will be a long night Friday and hopefully Jack will be good to me.

Remember that you need to get the end play between one and two thousands of an inch, or risk another failure.  The reasons to rivet the rotor on:  1. It looks original.  2.  You had the spindle and rotor turned together for 0 run out and want to keep it perfect.  3 You like the challenge of doing it.  If you don't rivet, it is a good idea to mark the pieces so it goes back together the same every time.

Larry

I have been getting different numbers on that..up to 0.005". I like the 0.001" number best! Won't be that hard once I get the tool and I have 2 sets of shims. I bought the wheel bearing grease tool that I will be using everyday! This will not happen again..I am going to repack the front tonight since I can't so the rears yet. Should be a good weekend .
Rich

You should grease the wheel bearing thoroughly with a good quality grease as you put them together.  If you keep packing more grease in after that, you will only blow out the seals.

I have heard that .005 is OK, but our rebuilder will not let one go out with more than .002, and we have never had one fail.

Larry

Well I got it put back together and drove it around the nieghborhood at 1:30 am.  Didn't get to do the rivets because the rotors I wanted to use didn't have rivet holes--so I really think they are not needed wah wah I DESTROYED an air hammer bit just to do it- oh well maybe next time.  I am going to take it easy for a few short trips and see if it goes ok plus break in the new pads and rotors..oh and the I had to rebuild the rf caliper also tonight..getting really good at bleeding these things out..I smell like old grease and a wet dog---maybe I will sleep outside tonight--you know the saying goes "people who take baths everyday are to lazy to scratch!"