Help With leaking axle bearings

BFS57 · September 29, 2010, 07:51:03 PM

Hello;
I just recently replaced my axle bearings on my chevy. Thought I got the job done, now, I am seeing gear oil on my rear brake backing plates.
Should I have used some RTV?. Talked to a couple chevy gurus and one seemed to think that my "off shore" parts were crappy, and not worth a squat!
Anyone ever had this problem? HELP! Where do I go from here?

Bruce

wayne petty · September 29, 2010, 08:09:40 PM

yes they are..

cheepo replacement oil seals have a straight face and a narrow sealing area...

better axle seals have a sealing area about a quarter inch wide with a garter spring on the inside...

you can see the wide sealing face in this link and the garter spring
http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/additional-prod-images/en/US/tim/714569/4/image/4/

here is the outer face... pf a good one..

http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/product-info/en/US/tim/714569/image/4/

this is a different style of seal... and the tiny sealing surface is what i am talking about... it could be the right size... but its unforgiving for any seal misalignment..

http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/product-info/en/US/tim/710429/image/4/

how about a year make and model.... or the number off the seal or the box... receipt...

i am also taking that you changed , if you have C clip axles.. the axle bearings... .. takes a special tip for a 5/8 slide hammer to get them and the seal out easily...

http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znetcs/product-info/en/US/grn/27129/image/4/

if not.. was there any play vertically, where the axle would be loose to wobble in the seal....

did you polish the axle when you had it out to clean the build up from the outer side of the wear area ... so when you push the axle all the way in to get the C clip back on.. it does not tear or scrape up the seal lips....

reborn55 · September 29, 2010, 08:45:01 PM

Possible the oring got slit on install--but the inner seal on the bearing may also be bad--if you are running the 57 rear end.. Should still be under warranty. I have run the off the shelf bearing in the past with very few problems. Even the top quality stuff can fail. Good luck

47convert · September 29, 2010, 11:08:38 PM

Do you have C Clip eliminators? They're known to leak after a while when used on the street. I'll bet Wayne has it nailed though.

BFS57 · September 30, 2010, 05:10:38 AM

Hello;
I am talking about the axle bearings by the wheels. On the 57 chevy, they are a very large sized bearing, open (you can see the balls) on one side and sealed on the outside (center section) The seal I refer to is a large rubber 'O' ring that goes in a grove on the outside of the bearing and (supposedly) seals the bearing outside in the axle housing. This 'O' ring seal is located on the outside portion of the bearing and the grove is about 1/4" or so in from the outside edge.
I thought I was doing good on pricing at $56.90 each but some I looked at were over $125.00 ea! It seems that the 57 chevy and only the 57 year rearend used these sized bearings. The 55 and 56 are different as well as the 58.
Now that I am in this mess, is there any way I can make these bearings seal?? Bigger sized "o" ring? Black RTV outside the bearing? (have to pull axles again!) What?

reborn55 · September 30, 2010, 09:01:57 AM

Probably pull axles and get bearing replaced. I had that same problem on one of my 57's years ago and I tried different o-rings, RTV, but finally replaced the bearing to cure the problem.

enjenjo · September 30, 2010, 12:35:39 PM

Quote from: "reborn55"Probably pull axles and get bearing replaced. I had that same problem on one of my 57's years ago and I tried different o-rings, RTV, but finally replaced the bearing to cure the problem.

He has new bearings, and no C clips.

Quite often, the seals are not installed with the proper tools, and the back up spring comes off, letting the seal leak.

reborn55 · September 30, 2010, 01:24:51 PM

Quote from: "enjenjo"
Quote from: "reborn55"Probably pull axles and get bearing replaced. I had that same problem on one of my 57's years ago and I tried different o-rings, RTV, but finally replaced the bearing to cure the problem.

He has new bearings, and no C clips.

Quite often, the seals are not installed with the proper tools, and the back up spring comes off, letting the seal leak.

57 bearings are a sealed unit--with o-ring on the outer part of casing--pressed fit onto the axle...most likely bearing will have to be pressed off and new bearing pressed on. not a bad job just time consuming

BFS57 · October 01, 2010, 05:58:02 AM

Hello;
Not a bad job if you have a press but at $50.00 a time, it can get costly! especially after just replacing.
I had some advise to check the lube in the rearend and take some out and see if that helps as when I had just installed these, I "toped-off" the rearend. Still need to pull everything, clean up and inspect. Possibly replace my brake shoes! (I just installed those!)

Bruce

reborn55 · October 01, 2010, 08:57:09 AM

If you don't have too much grease on the shoes--you can use brake clean and an air hose and do a pretty good job. Good luck

Arnold · October 01, 2010, 10:14:31 AM

Vent? I have seen this with plugged up vents. No comments from the cheap seats HAHA about not having the check valve in and filling the dif with water when I took a 4x4 in the crik.

wayne petty · October 01, 2010, 12:01:36 PM

i messed up above.... as i was not sure that you still had the 57 rear axle in the car... this only took me an hour to throw together.. one site (not included) crashed my mac so i had to start over...

here is an instruction booklet for the 56 rear end...

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/booklets/5603top01.htm

yes.. the bearings are slightly smaller in diameter.. and the bearing retainer has a deeper cup to it.. but the info is useful

pager 12 through 16 should be a required read for any tri 5 owner... mechanic...

page 13 shows that the oring on the bearing goes away from the flange and closes to the splines when pressed on the axle

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/booklets/5603top13.htm

here is a link to show the 3 different bearings..

http://www.socalsacc.com/C1%20Rear%20Axle%20Bearings.htm

and this link that shows the differences in bearing retainers

http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/229411/

yo might want to look at the big image on this link... that seems to show that you want to press/push the bearing and seal onto the axle first... then the retainer/collar second

http://www.trifive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30135

this is something that won't help... but you might not have seen it...

http://www.oldcarmanualproject.com/books/1957ChevyStockCarCompGuide/index.htm

the 57 owner manual
http://www.oldcarmanualproject.com/manuals/Chevy/1957/index.htm

'57 accessories...

http://www.oldcarmanualproject.com/brochures/Chev/1957/accs-index.html

and there should be enough info on these links to fill many hard drives...

just take a quick look... 55, 56, 57 assembly manuals...

http://www.55-57chevys.com/coccc/techhelp.html

and even more specific earlier chevy info.....

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/