Rear end help needed possiable bad bearing bent axle 9"

Ok here is what I got a 1957 9" rear end. I think the the bearing is going out of it or it could have a bent axle? The wheel is not bent. You can see the hub going in and out. I took a short vid so you can hear the clicking? sound and how much it moves. I have it up on jack stands in the back. Please let me know what you think it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl0qKx-jW4U


Thanks, Mike

 

I agree with you - either bad bearing or bent axle, but I'd be leaning towards the bent axle scenario. Pull the axle and check it. Easy enough to do on a 9".

 

Bent axle IMO.I would just pull it out and have a look .Its a 10-15 minute job to pull the axle on a 9 inch.You arent running a mini spool are you ?

 

Are you sure that wheel is not bent? Switch it with the other side first.

 

The drum look's like it's running true, put a dial indicator on the axle,or put the wheel on a spin balance machine check the runout.

 

I put the other side on already and one of the front wheels and they all wobble.

 

no mini spool

 

I'd say the axle flange is bent. Possibly the result of a poor setup while installing wheel studs.

Whether or not the housing is bent is still undetermined - I don't see how a bent housing would make the flange or wheel run out - it would just stress the axle shaft and bearing.

Put your indicator on the axle flange to rule out the wheel. Or maybe try the wheel on another corner where it presently runs true.

 

isnt it kinda hard to bend an axel without bending the housing? Your sure it isnt a brake part hitting the drum, rock in the tire? Ive bent an axel before and it wasnt easy. for me anyways.

 

....im betting its the tire,,,the drum looks like its running true...so that would say the axle flange is true.....

 

I'd pull the axle and look at it anyway .Inspect the bearing as well .These early 9 inchers are 28 spline (same as the later in that respect only).They have real weak axles as compared to the later 28 spline axles.They are tapered way down in the middle.I broke two drivers side axles in a 57 9 inch ,but i was using a mini spool .They both twisted off at the spline (result of the spool and cornering) ,so thats why i asked about the spool.The third axle wabbled like Hell and i pulled it out and it was twisted at the spline ,but didnt break yet .I learned my lesson the hard way about a spool and stock axles ...

 

agreed....I kept repeating the vid from 19 seconds to the end

 

If it is the tire what is that noise coming from? it is kind of hard to hear on the vid.

 

hard to tell with the camera moving too , i'd pull the wheels and drums and use a dial indicator on the axle flange to know for sure. if you don't have one i'm sure someone could borrow you one

 

thanks for the info

 

noise could be the spiders....they can make alot of noise with unloaded.....if its a bad bearing the drum should also move the same as the wheel....lift up from the botom of the tire..shouldnt be any up and down motion,maybe a "very small" about of in and out..

 

any more ideas

 

Yeah mark the "high spot" on the tire & note where it is (closest stud). Dismount it and rotate - reinstall. If high spot stays where you marked it - the rim is bent. If high spot moves (stays relative to stud mark) then it's the axle flange.

 

Do you think the 1/12" wheel spacers have anything to do with it? The other side is fine.

 

did you pull the wheel and drum and check the axle flange first? seams to me you should start with that and then if that checks out ok move on to the wheel adapters and then the wheels. that's how i would do it , otherwise you are just guessing

 

I agree ,no need in going further if the axle flange is bent or bearing is bad.If the axle and bearing check out good then move on to the wheel/tire /spacers ...

 

I'd replace the outer bearing, and seal anyways (their cheap), if you drove the car and you a howling type or sound coming from the rear of the car it's usually the outer bearing (a bearing can be bad, and still not cause a wobble). The brake drum seems to run true, I'd bet the spacer you are using is not machined correctly.

 

Back to basics. Listen to those talking about the flange. Put a dial indicator on the flange. If it's not true, you have a bent axle. It's as simple as that. If it's true, then check your wheels.

Just a quickie, but the logic of the troubleshoot should go.

1. Is the flange true? y/n No? Bent axle, yes, continue.
2. If yes, is the wheel true? y/n No? Bent wheel, yes, continue.
3. If yes, is the tire true? y/n
4. No? Put down the alcoholic beverage!

If the flange is not true, then it's a bent axle somewhere between the bearing and the flange. If it's not any of these, you might need to have a deep conversation with the deity of your choice for a solution.

In lieu of a dial indicator, you can easily set up a block and a piece of chalk or a sharpie. Put the sharpie 90 degrees from the hub, move it in slowly (very slowly) while the hub is rotating. If it doesn't go from no contact to all contact immediately, your hub is bent. Sometimes I use a brick and see if I get a rub with a rhythm or a steady rub. Super easy.

 

Remove the wheel and brake drum. Then rotate the axle by hand. Do you feel a tight spot as you rotate the axle? If so, you have a bearing that is in a bind. This could be from a distorted axle housing or a bent axle.