Rear axle and bearing change instructions

mpj76 · 01-10-2006, 02:55 PM

Hello, I'm pretty sure I need to change the axle bearing on my car. I have never worked on the rear end. Can someone post some instructions? I'll look in my Hayne's, but that never includes potential hang ups or good tricks. I've read that the axle will probably be damaged by the bad bearing. Is this something I can verify by just removing the diff cover? Thanks.

bigwhitecobra · 01-10-2006, 03:51 PM

The axle bearing is on the end of the axle tube. Behind the brake assembly. It can be a total pain in the arse. You have to have a special puller, which is actually a slide hammer, to get it out. Sometimes the race breaks, and then you get to play hell getting it out. I suggest giving that headache to a quallified shop and let them deal with it. It's worth it to not have to deal with it.

Ieatcamaros · 01-10-2006, 08:38 PM

Sometimes a little heat will let that bearing race out. Stinks like a mofo but works. Or if you break the bearing and leave the outside race still in the axle housing, you can weld a bead on the inside of the bearing race. It'll come out then.

You can't check this by just pulling the diff cover. How do you know the axle bearing is the problem?

Joel5.0 · 01-10-2006, 09:38 PM

If you go ahead with the bearings removal, either you or have a shop do it for you, and you find out the axles are damaged due to wear on the area the bearing runs on.....you don't have to replace the axles. There's an alternative using an offset bearing/seal setup so you can "extend" their useful life and unless an upgraded set of axles is on the works. The part# is VLRP5707 or RP5707 under the Timken brand. JIC.

mpj76 · 01-10-2006, 10:39 PM

I think the bearing is bad because I can hear a wah wah wah sound coming from the side of the rear end. Speed changes the frequency of the sound. Higher speeds (over 60) can be felt as shaking develops throughout the entire car, almost like out of balance tires. It does it whether or not I'm in gear, with or without the engine on. When the rear of the car is jacked up, the passenger side wheel spins by hand easily, where the driver's side has a noticable resistance throughout about 2/3 of its motion range. The resistance is there even when the drum is pulled off, so I know its not a rubbing brake problem. Do you think I'm diagnosing this correctly? An axle upgrade is not in order - I appreciate the heads up.

Jeff Chambers · 01-11-2006, 08:13 AM

Sounds about right to me.

bigwhitecobra · 01-11-2006, 09:34 AM

Yeah, however, I have a few issues with the whole

Quote:

It does it whether or not I'm in gear, with or without the engine on.

thing. That just sounds dangerous to me. (Never done that personally

)

mpj76 · 01-11-2006, 10:44 AM

Probably no more dangerous than driving around with a bad bearing

Ieatcamaros · 01-11-2006, 07:07 PM

Your driving around with a bad bearing is just about going to guarantee axle damage. How long have you been driving with the bearing noise?

If you want to fix the problem, but can't do an axle upgrade, why not just buy a stock replacement axle from a junkyard or parts store?

grey88gt · 01-11-2006, 11:36 PM

As Joel 5.0 said, there is a offset bearing to fix a bad axle. Ive run them in 8.8 and 9 inch rear ends with no problems.

bmxmon · 01-12-2006, 02:06 PM

When I got my 8inch out of the junkyard, I had to replace one of the bearings. A pain in the ass, but not too bad I didnt think. When I went to remove the axle Im too poor for the right tools, so I used a chain hooked to the axle and a C-clamp attached to the chain for a handle. Alot of hard pulls later it poped out. I got the bearing pressed on by a shop though.

01-10-2006, 02:55 PM	#1
mpj76 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 158	Rear axle and bearing change instructions Hello, I'm pretty sure I need to change the axle bearing on my car. I have never worked on the rear end. Can someone post some instructions? I'll look in my Hayne's, but that never includes potential hang ups or good tricks. I've read that the axle will probably be damaged by the bad bearing. Is this something I can verify by just removing the diff cover? Thanks. __________________ 91 Coupe: FMS 1 5/8 unqual shorty's, BBK off road X-pipe, Super Duty T5, Pro 5.0 short shifter, 2.73 rear, G3 alt, MSD coil, dist, no smog pump, oil cooler, 195K miles, 14 deg timing, 23 mpg city/29 mpg highway @ 65 mph.

01-10-2006, 03:51 PM	#2
bigwhitecobra Huh? Whatcha said? Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 1,073	Re: Rear axle and bearing change instructions The axle bearing is on the end of the axle tube. Behind the brake assembly. It can be a total pain in the arse. You have to have a special puller, which is actually a slide hammer, to get it out. Sometimes the race breaks, and then you get to play hell getting it out. I suggest giving that headache to a quallified shop and let them deal with it. It's worth it to not have to deal with it. __________________ 2003 GT White---STOLEN May you burn in hell whoever took it. Dumbazz didn't even get the good engine that was in the garage.

01-10-2006, 08:38 PM	#3
Ieatcamaros Domestic Rice really sucks! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: KY Posts: 973	Re: Rear axle and bearing change instructions Sometimes a little heat will let that bearing race out. Stinks like a mofo but works. Or if you break the bearing and leave the outside race still in the axle housing, you can weld a bead on the inside of the bearing race. It'll come out then. You can't check this by just pulling the diff cover. How do you know the axle bearing is the problem? __________________ The sig says it all.

01-10-2006, 09:38 PM	#4
Joel5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico Posts: 33	Re: Rear axle and bearing change instructions If you go ahead with the bearings removal, either you or have a shop do it for you, and you find out the axles are damaged due to wear on the area the bearing runs on.....you don't have to replace the axles. There's an alternative using an offset bearing/seal setup so you can "extend" their useful life and unless an upgraded set of axles is on the works. The part# is VLRP5707 or RP5707 under the Timken brand. JIC. __________________ ACRONYMS: LUK=Let Us Know, GL=Good Luck, LMK=Let Me Know, JIC=Just In Case, BTSTDTRT=Been There Seen That Done That Repaired That and the classic... DILLIGAS=Do I Look Like I Give A S*** 1986 Mustang GT w/T-Tops NOW: 5.0L Stock SB, X303 Cam, 700 cfm DP Holley, 289 '66 Heads, 1.7 RR, Richmond Gear 4+1 Tranny, Centerforce DF, 2.73 Gears WIP: 3.90 Gears, LS Overhaul, Adj. LCA's & UCA's (Granatelli), T-Top weather striping and rear braces bodywork

01-10-2006, 10:39 PM	#5
mpj76 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 158	Re: Rear axle and bearing change instructions I think the bearing is bad because I can hear a wah wah wah sound coming from the side of the rear end. Speed changes the frequency of the sound. Higher speeds (over 60) can be felt as shaking develops throughout the entire car, almost like out of balance tires. It does it whether or not I'm in gear, with or without the engine on. When the rear of the car is jacked up, the passenger side wheel spins by hand easily, where the driver's side has a noticable resistance throughout about 2/3 of its motion range. The resistance is there even when the drum is pulled off, so I know its not a rubbing brake problem. Do you think I'm diagnosing this correctly? An axle upgrade is not in order - I appreciate the heads up. __________________ 91 Coupe: FMS 1 5/8 unqual shorty's, BBK off road X-pipe, Super Duty T5, Pro 5.0 short shifter, 2.73 rear, G3 alt, MSD coil, dist, no smog pump, oil cooler, 195K miles, 14 deg timing, 23 mpg city/29 mpg highway @ 65 mph.

01-11-2006, 08:13 AM	#6
Jeff Chambers Moderator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Milan, OH Posts: 2,699	Re: Rear axle and bearing change instructions Sounds about right to me. __________________ Jeff Chambers 1990 Mustang GT 10.032 Seconds / 137.5 MPH 14-time Street Warrior World Record Setter CRT Performance 2001 Tropic Green Mustang GT - 12.181 / 113.2 MPH 2002 Ford F-250 Crew Cab 7.3l Power Stroke - 17.41@77.2 "There's nothing boring about a small block automatic shifting gears at 9400 rpm!"

01-11-2006, 10:44 AM	#8
mpj76 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 158	Re: Rear axle and bearing change instructions Probably no more dangerous than driving around with a bad bearing __________________ 91 Coupe: FMS 1 5/8 unqual shorty's, BBK off road X-pipe, Super Duty T5, Pro 5.0 short shifter, 2.73 rear, G3 alt, MSD coil, dist, no smog pump, oil cooler, 195K miles, 14 deg timing, 23 mpg city/29 mpg highway @ 65 mph.

01-11-2006, 07:07 PM	#9
Ieatcamaros Domestic Rice really sucks! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: KY Posts: 973	Re: Rear axle and bearing change instructions Your driving around with a bad bearing is just about going to guarantee axle damage. How long have you been driving with the bearing noise? If you want to fix the problem, but can't do an axle upgrade, why not just buy a stock replacement axle from a junkyard or parts store? __________________ The sig says it all.

01-11-2006, 11:36 PM	#10
grey88gt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Skiatook, Oklahoma Posts: 193	Re: Rear axle and bearing change instructions As Joel 5.0 said, there is a offset bearing to fix a bad axle. Ive run them in 8.8 and 9 inch rear ends with no problems.

01-12-2006, 02:06 PM	#11
bmxmon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 950	Re: Rear axle and bearing change instructions When I got my 8inch out of the junkyard, I had to replace one of the bearings. A pain in the ass, but not too bad I didnt think. When I went to remove the axle Im too poor for the right tools, so I used a chain hooked to the axle and a C-clamp attached to the chain for a handle. Alot of hard pulls later it poped out. I got the bearing pressed on by a shop though. __________________ Alex

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