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Topic: Rear wheel bearing diagnosis

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components

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Rear wheel bearing diagnosis

Posted: 6/9/07 7:09am Message 1 of 7
GeezerVetter
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Joined: 4/17/2006
Posts: 11

I hear a slight clicking-like noise from the right rear assembly on my '74, especially at about 40mph, but not during a slow drive through an alley.  The official Chevy manual does not recommend any powered tests on jacks.  I plan to remove the rotor to check the placement of the emergency brake shoes.  Other than that, the only thing I know to do is to remove the axle and rotate the bearing by hand.  All rear U-joints are fairly new.  Any suggestions?   




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Rear wheel bearing diagnosis

Posted: 6/9/07 7:59am Message 2 of 7
ranger3
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North Charleston, SC - USA
Joined: 3/20/2004
Posts: 4176
Vette(s): 1975 L48 AT AC T-top
This post looks familiar. Some others here have suggested to check for the emergency brake cable...sometimes a wheel weight can rub it under certain conditions especially if you are running a slightly wider tire. Some have stated that a E-brake pad or loose spring in there can cause the clicking. If you do a search of past topics here, put emergency brake cable in the search window, there are numerous posts on the subject.

Good luck, you will find it.

Scott


Rear wheel bearing diagnosis

Posted: 6/9/07 9:52am Message 3 of 7
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aceinthehole
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Manteca, CA - USA
Joined: 11/20/2005
Posts: 3623
Vette(s): 1978,two tone,Metalic Rootbeer & gold 1975 L48 4 speed
To be sure of your wheel bearing condition you can check for play just as you would the front bearings. With the tire off the ground and no E brake engaged ( and all proper precautions taken to ensure the car is safely stable) with one hand on top of the tire and one on the bottom you can feel the play by shaking the tire, and lifting from the bottom to feel for play. Of course only an experienced pro can tell you how much play is becoming dangerously loose. But with that much info you can get opinions on wether to have them repacked or replaced sooner or later.


Jimmy B.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.

 
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Rear wheel bearing diagnosis

Posted: 6/15/07 7:26am Message 4 of 7
bytor
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Simpsonville, SC - USA
Joined: 1/21/2007
Posts: 85
Vette(s): 1978 25th. Silver Anniversary Edition 350 L-82 Stock

What about rotational play?  I guess that the best way to describe it.  With the car on jacks, I can hold the passenger rear wheel and wiggle the spindle flange forward and backward just a little bit.  Could this be spline wear?




Rear wheel bearing diagnosis

Posted: 6/15/07 10:26am Message 5 of 7
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Adams' Apple
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
If the wheels turn slightly(rotate) such as you describe, you are probably feeling a bit of play in the u-joints, or the free-play(backlash) in the diff.
If the play is in the u-joints, they need to be taken care of asap. New don't mean they are good.

IF there is any type of movement of the wheel, without the inner spindle-flange moving, you may have some spline wear, but that is VERY rare. The nut that holds the spindle flange to the spindle should not allow any motion between the two, as it presses them together tightly. If that nut is loose, it can cause all sorts of noises/clunks/vibrations, depending on how loose it actually is.


Joel Adams
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Rear wheel bearing diagnosis

Posted: 6/15/07 12:57pm Message 6 of 7
bytor
Former Member
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Simpsonville, SC - USA
Joined: 1/21/2007
Posts: 85
Vette(s): 1978 25th. Silver Anniversary Edition 350 L-82 Stock
I ruled out my u joints by disconnecting the half shaft and the play is between the flange and the wheel.  It's not much but the divers side doesn't do it so thats what got me thinking. 


Rear wheel bearing diagnosis

Posted: 11/16/07 6:04am Message 7 of 7
R75VETTE
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Joined: 9/28/2007
Posts: 7
i just had a 76 towed into my shop and the left rear bearing was so bad that the wheel would not turn and was leaning at a 45 degree angle i think the u-joint was gone also told customer about time and he called a friend and they loaded to take it home in 3 years at this shop i have seen 5 of these where the rear bearing failes badly we are on 2 intersecting interstates


in Forum: C3 Driveline Components


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