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#1
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1958 Rear Wheel Bearings
Does anybody have any good information about the R&R of the rear wheel bearings for a '58? This is on my Chieftain Wagon and I'm starting to get a grumbling noise that I think is the rear wheel bearings. (hoping it's not the diff)
I'm trying to find part numbers and sources for them. On e-bay there is some listed as part number 514003 for a Timken bearing, but I'm always a bit leary of "fits"..... Or if anyone has specs for it to find it that way or compare...ID and OD And I've read with the fronts it's wise to swap to a tapered bearing, so if there is any such improvement to be made here, I'm all ears. I'm not doing the fronts yet as I'd like to do the Scarebird upgrade soon. Thanks Thad
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Thad 1958 Chieftain Safari (370,4 spd, 9 passenger) Daily Driver 1966 Bonneville Wagon (Factory 421,3x2,4spd, 9 passenger) On the road!! |
#2
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Fabcraft sells a complete rear wheel bearing kit: http://fabcraftmetalworks.com/cgi/co...key=RA6-0400-A
They need to be pressed off and on, unless you have a press it's probably best to take them to a local machine shop. |
#3
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Rock Auto specs these http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...042&cc=1351011 at $21.79 each.
Timken 514003 specs are here http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1119770.
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My Pontiac is a '57 GMC with its original 347" Pontiac V8 and dual-range Hydra-Matic. |
#4
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California Pontiac restoration has them
part# C955000R for 56-58 $74.75 ea. The axle seal is built into the bearing Just put two in my 56 last winter Hope this helps |
#5
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Bumping this post:
My '57 axles are leaking and I have determined that it is the bearing seals. Bummer that I have to trash great bearings... The Timken 514003 bearings do not appear to have the outside groove for the O rings utilized to seal against the tube and I am sorta loath to goober it up with RTV or some such product to seal the new bearings. Our host dos not offer the correct bearing but this Timken # was used by B.O.P. and many FOMOCO products so it is readily available. Any thoughts Guys??
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"At no time did we exceed 175 mph.” Dan Gurney's truthful response to his and Brock Yate's winning of the first ever Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining Sea... Still have my 1st Firebird 7th Firebird 57 Starchief |
#6
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If going through Fabcraft, you might as well get a pair of reconditioned rear axels from them. The price used to be very reasonable..
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#7
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I wouldn't waste my time looking for front tapered bearings for your existing drums. Wait till you do the Scarebird front disc swap. JMO.
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#8
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389,
I would love to bag that my old 347 is hard on axles but that is only in my dreams! Poncho, No tapered bearings (inner) available for the front drums & I can't bring myself to put disks on a car this original.
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"At no time did we exceed 175 mph.” Dan Gurney's truthful response to his and Brock Yate's winning of the first ever Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining Sea... Still have my 1st Firebird 7th Firebird 57 Starchief |
#9
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When I replaced the axle brgs on my 1964 GP I took the axles to the local parts store and they had them in stock along with seals. They pressed them off and on no problem. Don't try that at Auto Zone or other chain store.
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#10
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Fabcraft 9.3
Just an update, I ordered up a correct bearing kit from Fabcraft. It comes with inner seals for later cars that won't work in the '57 & 58 but I can pass those on to a friend.
The axles are out & ready for the new bearings. I just shake my head at the rather Byzantine setup that they used to keep stray lube from the shoes, Dana had a much simpler setup, the only thing that I can think of is that GM had to work around a patent. See the photo of the outer axle: They have a "cup" that funnels gear lube to a shield that is attached to the back of the flange. This is supposed to channel lube through the flange, out the brake drum, allowing it to escape to the back side of the wheel. If time allowed, I could update the bearing retainers with the newer setup but this should hold me for years?
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"At no time did we exceed 175 mph.” Dan Gurney's truthful response to his and Brock Yate's winning of the first ever Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining Sea... Still have my 1st Firebird 7th Firebird 57 Starchief |
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