rear wheel bearings

I am changing the rear wheel bearings on my 56 Pontiac. The old ones were of the open ball bearing type but the replacements are the sealed ones. Do I leave them sealed or open them up? Don

 

Leave them

 

I say leave-um.... Or call the mfg's tech dept.... So many new bearings are sealed anymore.... my sons 06 f150 not only are his fronts sealed, rotors and bearings are together..... its crazy...

 

Thanks guys, The driveline people said to leave them also. Don

 

dont drop one, the seal will fall out
When I was a kid, it took a screwdriver and serious effort to get the seal out

 

Hey! I've been going through the same thing on my 57. I have the bearing, it's a Timken 514003. I did some research because the outer race had a groove for an o-ring to seal the bearing to the housing, on the original. The new bearing doesn't have the groove. After doing some research and calling Moser, I found out there is a seal that you'll need to drive into the housing to seal the axle. This new seal eliminates the need for the o-ring and those other paper gaskets that go on the end of the axle..... Been posting in the 57-64 Olds/Pontiac axle thread. Tons of good info on that thread. I realize you have a 56, and it may be slightly different...