Dave....you could prolly do them, it just takes patience, and time. Setting the bearings back up is the hard part....they have to be perfect, or dang close to perfect, or you'll be doing them again far sooner than ya want to. The biggest issue with setting up the new bearing clearances is that BOTH bearings are a press fit on the spindle, which makes changing shims to get the correct clearance a multi on-off deal....no fun in that at all. There is a tool that allows you to set the clearance and change shims without  even using the spindle. The tool basically replaces the spindle for the purpose of getting the clearances right. Once you have them right, and know what shims are needed, you can install the spindle with the shims, and yer done. I don't have the "special" tool...but I made one meself that works the same way. Been doing them like that for years, and so far(knock on wood), I haven't had a failure yet.






|UPDATED|7/2/2014 10:34:57 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Yes I understand the process. Similar to setting up side shims on a ring and pinion. The big dif is the press fit like you say. At least on a R&P you can pull the carrier out by hand, change shims and try again.
Bairs quoted me $175 per side for rebuilt bearing assebly that they say bolts back into the T-arm. Is that a good price? I'm also questioning the bolt in part...it looks like from the exploded diagram you have to press the inner bearings onto the spindle after its sitting in the t-arm...maybe I'm not seeing the assembly correctly....

On set up, are you looking for a specific amount of drag with a inch pound torque wrench or is there a feeler gauge clearance your working with?

That price sounds really reasonable to me. 

The spindle support IS a separate piece...it has four bolts that are splined into the t-arm, that go thru the support, then the backing plate, with four nuts that hold it all together.





Bearing clearance is set to .001"- .005"...closer to the .001" is better, but .005" is acceptable, and will survive just fine. I think I wound up with .003" on mine when I did them years ago. Shim selection makes the difference.....some kits only have this or that size. I had(at one time) a big box full of those shims of every size ever made. I think factory specs are .001"-.007"

hth

Many thanks Joel!I think I will order the rebuilt units. Doing it myself will just take too many of our precious summer weeks, considering I may need to source a spindle if mine is roached. 

The rebuilt supports SHOULD come with new/good spindles already installed. It'd be kinda useless otherwise....  

Are they sold core exchange, or outright purchase? If they require your cores, then you might loose a little if the spindle is bad. Same thing if they will be rebuilding your originals.
Swapping the supports shouldn't take too long.....you ought to be able to do them one weekend if yer lazy like I am. If yer not, then prolly one Saturday will be plenty of time. Hardest part is gettin the dadburn parking brake stuff out of the way so you can remove the four nuts that hold the support to the t-arm. You'll need to remove the flange for the halfshaft, or course, but I think you said you already had that off.

Here's a tip for re-assembly.....one of the pins for the p-brake shoes is "trapped", so it's hard to get it assembled without that turd fallin out. Put the pin thru the backing plate, and sillycone that bh in there long before putting it all back together....give it eough time for the sillycone to harden somewhat. That will hold the pin in, but still be flexible enough to move it to get the shoes back on.

Ya I was thinking if I ordered bearings/races/seals, pressed it all off, found my spindle was bad then I'm out that time looking for a spindle. So, I just now ordered the bearing assembly allowing me to do the repair with the arm installed. Good tip on the p-brake pin! Now the good news....I had this glimmer of a memory from the PO saying something about having one side of the rear axle worked on. I called him and yes, the lift side bearings have been replace. He had a funny wheel wobble....gee sounds familiar. I also found the receipt for all this. So I'm off to the races, right side only. Yippee! I should have the parts next Friday, I will install Sat and hopefully take the car on a short trip Sunday over the Sierra mountains....glutton for punishment? 

Oh hey, Torque specs on the 4 retainer nuts and large inside flange nut? My lame book shows none of this. Obviously not qualified to be working on these parts.
Thanks,
Dave