I had a car once with a bent axle and when driven down the road your could feel it and when placed on jack stands the wobble was easily seen. Late last season I think my right rear wheel bearing went bad. Upon acceleration it made a 'thump,thump, thump' sound that increased as I sped up. No sound while coasting or while at steady speed (i.e.: 70 mph on the highway). I tried to move the axle shaft but it was solid. While jacked up I tried to move the wheel by hand but it was solid. I did notice while installing new shocks that the rim is bent (lip). I also noticed the lower control rod has a shiny spot corresponding to the tire.

My idea is the bearing is bad causing the tire to contact the control rod while under load. The car has 143K on it. Any input would be greatly appreciated. I have the funds to fix, I just don't want to start throwing money at it hoping to find the problem. Been there done that. Please help. Thanks.

Are the bearings OE? If so, you really need to consider new ones. They historically only last about 90k miles.

There is a wiggle test, too.

Another guess is the rear rubber bushings. I know mine are shot. I am planning on getting the banski kit.

Wheel bearings tend to make a hammering sound and it's get better or worse during cornering.
My 7 year old Good Year's made noise like a worn out wheel bearing, what a difference with the Kumhos. You might just lost a weight and need a tire rebalanced.

When the rear bearings went on my '88, one season apart, it was more of a low growling sound. 110k miles or so.

When I replaced them, they looked really horrible. Like they'd been left sitting in rusty water in the back yard for months.

After replacement, the rear end had no noticable noise at all.

Make sure you replace the teflon washers too, and they have to be installed correctly. They can go on one of 2 ways. The right way, and the wrong way.

I didn't on the first one, and got a loud clicking sound every time I put the car in gear.

[IMG]http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii12/xccter/RearWheelBearing.jpg[/IMG]

A few other points...

1. At 143k, don't be surprised if you have a siezed ujoint.

2. The stub axle rusts a bit within the bearing. That will also make it make noise. Whenever you do the bearing, hit the axle with a steel brush and then coat with antisieze.

3. If you replace the rear bearings, be ready to torque the stub axle bolt... I mean TORQUE that sucker!!! 200 ft lbs is the updated torque rating. I am not looking forward to that one... yuck. I am going to get a pipe for my torque wrench, so I can leverage better.

4. I reiterate the importance of the bushings. The rubber hardens and they just don't do the job anymore... it's bad... real bad...

Thanks for the response. I am planning on new wheels and tires so that is one area. Sounds like replacing the bearings was in the future anyway. I was thinking about shopping at Corvette Central.

U-joints, sounds like a good idea at about $18 each. Now, rubber or polyurethane bushings?. Are they difficult to put in?

Now for the torque on the bearings. 200 ft/lbs? FSM says 66, why so much more?

I am getting excited, summer is coming.

Then the FSM is wrong.

I think that 66 ft lbs applies to the 3 torx bolts on the backside of the bearing.


Why is the wheel lip bent? Are you sure the entire wheel isn't tweaked? Did you run over something?

An out of balance wheel will destroy a bearing must faster.

[quote]
CentralCoaster wrote:
Then the FSM is wrong.

I think that 66 ft lbs applies to the 3 torx bolts on the backside of the bearing.


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My 95 FSM calls for 167 ft lb on those three bolts.

Well, there's your typo.

No way in hell those T55 bolts should see 167 ft lbs. They would snap right off.

The manual has them backwards. And I recall they had a TSB or something that upped the torque on the spindle nut.

So... 66 ft lbs on the torx bolts, and 200 ft lbs on the spindle nut.

These are also consistent with standard torque settings for the size and grade of the bolts in question.

From the 1984 service manual:

Hub/bearing to knuckle: 59-73 ftlbs.
Spindle to hub/bearing: 151-177 ftlbs.

Oh yeah, 1992 FSM does say 164 lb.ft. for the spindle and 66 for the hub mounting bolts. 66 on the spindle would be bad. As for the wheel,I am not sure why it is bent. I have not hit anything in the short time I have owned it. The sawblades are beat up at all four corners and they put 255/40r17 on it (9.5" wheels) which I really don't like because the rim sticks out further than the tread width. I am flip flopping between Z06 (black or comp grey) or the GS A-molds (17x11) with new rubber all around.

Are the Teflon bushings mentioned in posts 4 and 5 the ones that go on before the large nut which gets torqued to 200lb ft? 2 Hard to tell from the picture.

thanks.

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Cheapest genuine AC Delco bearings $100
http://www.corvetterecycling.com/product_p/7470501.htm

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What a coincidence, FedEx is scheduled to deliver two of these tomorrow from corvetterecycling.com. I also have all of the half shaft ujoints and control arm bushings ready to go. Gonna be a busy day Saturday. I went with the comp gray Z06 wheels, looks great.
Before:
[IMG]http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm183/skirlin/PICT0057.jpg[/IMG]

After:
[IMG]http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm183/skirlin/PICT0060.jpg[/IMG]

I'll post pictures when it is all done and on the ground. Dave.

Noise when you corner or turn is a test for wheel bearings. If you turn right and hear noise, it's the left side bearing and vice versa.

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No, that Teflon coated washer goes on the spindle prior to the bearing being placed.

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Good to know for future reference. Which side of the washer goes in/out?

Matthew

It's pretty obvious when you stick it on there. The ID is flared out and only fits one way.

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Oh, I see how it is.....OK OK I give!! I DON'T KNOW

I hope you are happy with what you've done.....

Seriously, I think the Teflon would face outwards. But I am not for sure

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Hey, I'm good at asking questions, what can I say? I can give a lot of answers, too. They won't be correct, but I can give them

Matthew

I'll be doing this soon.

Both sides are painted with whatever that stuff is.

Also where did the teflon thing come from? Is that just myth or published somewhere?