Technical Chevy Drop Out Third Member Rebearing

The carrier bearings in mine were toast. Pinion bearings came in the kit so replacing those, old ones looked fine. Not changing R&P or anything else. There was this one shim behind the rear pinion bearing, and I'm guessing these shims that came in the kit are for the same use. The bearing presses on, so I'm thinking just use the old shim?

 

Measure the shims, but bearing to bearing might be a bit different. Would probably be okay but check the pattern anyways.

 

That stuff is like Chinese arithmetic to me! One thing I've never learned to do (properly) my only fears in life are wasps, horse flies, sharks, and setting up a differential

 

With these kind of third members, using the old shims on the original gears is a very good starting place. But be sure to check the pattern on the gears and the backlash. If these are close, you are good to go. The pressed on bearings can be pressed off using a bearing puller. Not fun, but doable.









Bones

 

I’m scarred of wasps and horse flys too, but not sharks! Not many in Oklahoma! Lol I like setting up gears , tho…….






Bones

 

Wimps. Afraid of wasps and horse flies. Mercy. Only thing I’m afraid of is tall women.

 

was the pinion nut tight when you took it apart?

If the old shim is in good condition, use it. If it has been spun and shows wear, use a new one that's as close as you can to the original shim thickness. which sometimes can be hard to determine!

you got a new crush sleeve, too?

 

I put a 4' torque wrench on the nut to take it apart, expecting a fight, but it came off easily, maybe 50ft. lbs.. No evidence the shim was spinning, no apparent wear. I'll re-use it. The guys that do this all the time must have a bearing with the middle opened up to slide on and off. Yes, new crush sleeve in the kit.

Thanks guys!

 

Not in Kentucky either, but I've seen that shark week on television! Hateful looking bitches!

 

Generally speaking as squirrel said the original will get you where you need to be if you are only changing bearings

 

Yep, I have a whole set of “ set up “ bearings that I made by honing out the centers with a cylinder hone. It took a while, but it’s worth it. But even with these set up bearing when you install the new bearings, they can be a little different than the set up bearings. Usually not by much, but I have had to remove the new bearings due to the pattern or back lash not being to my liking.







Bones

 

OK, pressed the new bearings on, ready to proceed. I think the plan is to put the pinion in, without crush sleeve, knock the outer bearing on for zero lash, install and adjust the carrier and check tooth pattern. Correct? If it looks good, remove everything, put the crush sleeve on, bearing, seal, yoke and torque to a specific inch pound of pinion rotation, install and adjust carrier. If the tooth pattern is off, go to lunch.

Here's my old carrier bearings. I wasn't sure if they were supposed to be barrel shaped. They are not, at least the new ones aren't. And the reason I have been able to drive the car while this is apart is because when I pulled it and saw it needed rebuilding I looked on Craig's List and, remarkably, there was a '56 Corvette third member for sale. That's what's in there now, although it may have been in a '56 it's not a '56, but it works.

 

The early carrier bearings are barrel shaped, but I don't recall if they can be replaced by the later tapered bearings.

I would put the original pinion shim in, and put it all together, and then see how it looks. If the pinion shim was not worn excessively, and nothing else got loose, the pattern should be fine.

I've got to the point where I only replace bearings if I can see that they're bad...I don't replace them just because I can. I love old parts that still work, and my guess is that all the old bearings in there were still working fine. The seals get tired, so they need to be replaced. The rest can be inspected and put back into service, if it's still in serviceable condition.

 

If reusing the old gear set, I would check the backlash before I take it apart and set it back where it was. Trying to set a gear patter on a used gear set can make one lose a lot of hair.

 

Oh no! The kit I bought said 55-64, but the front pinion bearing was the same size as the rear, mine is smaller. They sent the right bearing, maybe post '56 had the large front bearing. I sure hope I can use the non barreled carrier bearings!

Yeah I wish now I hadn't pulled the pinion, but after seeing the carrier bearings, and not being able to see the pinion bearings without knocking it apart, I had to check. Then it needs a new crush sleeve, nut, seal, all in the kit along with new bearings. So.. here I am.

 

It's usually a good idea to take stuff apart, before ordering replacement parts.

 

Id guess that barrel shaped bearings would use barrel shaped races , straight rollers , straight races , ALA races ( inside & outside) fit in the housing correctly , should be no problem ...

 

I did take it apart, all the way. I didn't ask if the bearing kit, purchased from these guys and listed as 55-64, had barrel shaped carrier bearings or if the pinion bearings were two different sizes. Didn't know about it.

I agree, I can't think of any structural change that would necessitate barrel or straight roller bearings.

 

Gator mcklusky "only 2 things I'm afraid of " just 2? "Yep women and the police"

 

Sorry, I guess it's one of those things that you have to have been through, to anticipate it.

Looking at the 59 chevy parts book, it's just confusing...different bearings are listed through 56, and 57-later. But the parts that they fit on (carrier and case) both have overlap for those years. And there's no note about using the newer bearings in the older rears.

how do the bearing sizes compare? If they're the same, then you should be able to swap them. If the old ones are in good condition, I'd still like to keep them in there, just because they're original....

 

Another oddity, my service manual shows the '55 pinion as having a double ball bearing in front, a snap ring for the rear bearing and no crush sleeve.

I'll have to look at the old bearings again. The car had rear end noise. When I pulled it out of the car, I could wiggle the carrier quite a bit in the bearings so I knew something was amiss and apart it came. Pretty sure they are bad but won't be able to look now for a couple of days. I've already pressed the new bearings onto the carrier so probably give them a go.

Thanks for checking the books. Last time I played with these rears was late '70s. The 396 in my '58 Impala use to spit spider gear teeth on a regular basis.

 

A friend of mine was short, but he liked tall women. He said to throw a pail over their head and hang on the handle.

 

they were still torque tube, is why

 

Thought '54 was the last year for Chevy closed drive line ?

 

almost.

 

So the '55 Vette had the V8 and a torque tube?

 

https://store.tracyvette.com/item/1245/

 

Time to mess with this again. Here's the old barrel races, toast.

What's good to put on the gear teeth to check pattern, that I already have in the garage or kitchen?

 

the yellow or white stuff that came with a bearing kit you put in a different rearend a few years ago...is what I use...

I haven't found anything that works well, besides the correct stuff, unfortunately.

 

Ah, must be that little white tube behind the big tube of gasket maker. Didn't even notice it. Thanks!

Forgot the old bearing pic