Wheel bearings?

[justinstagl]

I took my wheels off this weekend to inspect the brakes, suspension, and wheel bearings. The brakes were in decent shape, and the suspension looked ok(except for some old bushings), but the rear wheel bearings have me concerned. The wheel hubs seem to wiggle in and out of the bearings(I think). There is no side to side play, or wobble that I can feel, so I figured I should ask someone more knowledgeable. Also, where it is wiggling seems to be wet(oily?), and Im not sure if I should be concerned about it. A picture is worth a thousand words so I uploaded a ~10 second video:

http://youtu.be/ZCeNR8wFifc

If you could check it out and let me know what you think I would appreciate it.

[gorkyb]

Don't take my word for it but shouldn't that be normal? Isn't that the backslash in the differential to allow for heat expansion?

[fixkick]

bad, they are.
there is no radial or axle play, in ball bearings, (there is play , but at the sub , below 0.001" amount, not felt by humans. see Timken page for exact amount)
the bearings are captive and locked to the axle.
you just caught it early.
is the axle lube low, or like tar.?


http://www.fixkick.com/axles/axle_rear_R&R.html

have video too.

[renaissanceman]

Rear Bearings can be a royal PITA. I opted to swap both mine for some low mileage donor axles when I did the job (mostly because the PO bent one of them -- only God knows how you do that on something this light?).

I ended up having to drill 3 of 8 of those axle retaining studs out due to rust. All is well now, though. all the fasteners have a liberal coating of anti-seize on them now, so the second time will be a snap. I much prefer the R&R of the front bearings.

[justinstagl]

I am not sure if my able lube qualifies a bad or not. Also it was chilly this morning and I hadn't driven it yet, so it is probably more viscous than normal What do you think?

1998 Chevy Tracker rear axle lube: http://youtu.be/JgU51fA9TrE

The level of lube did not seem to be low, it went up to the edge of the fill hole, so it is probably not leaking. So replacing the wheel bearings should fix the movement?

[fixkick]

good lube can be amber color or green or light brown or clear (syn lube) all stink to high heaven.
or black as tar, and full of shiny metal dust. ? bad news , 50k miles on GL5 is like max.
we take off top plug dip in finger, all its near the top but look here, it's tar like (think nasty old GL5) like 20 years old. old.
see?
the bearings have, there own grease and and inboard seal.
when the bearing failsm both seals are beat to death and both leak (talking 1 axle here) and then the GL5 runs the bearing now, as lube and leaks to brakes.
that is how it fails.
my guess it just too many miles on orig. koyo bearings.? or
or the grease long ago, just broke down, and killed the bearing, i'd bet this.

it's in fail mode now, and will only get worse.
new bearings and all new seals is the cure. (and the new lock ring)


i found them easy to change but again, my machine shop pressed them off then on for like $40.
so all i do is swap em. (my press is too small)

and sure rust , is possible, and that is never easy,,