Front Spindle Bearing Failure
02-10-2009, 04:46 PM
#1
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 121
Front Spindle Bearing Failure
Failed the front wheel bearing on a 65 coupe. When I removed the drum and what was left of the bearings, I found a piece totally siezed on the spindle shaft. Anybody experience this before?
It's about 3/4" long, along the shaft. It has a small flange about 3/4" dia and it's on there good. Smacking vice grips with a 3# dead blow doesn't budge it a bit. Can't even tell where this piece could have come from. Sure doesn't seem like a bearing component. Anybody out there had this issue?
I checked the other side and it has the expected smooth, tapered spindle shaft - no problems. Ideas?
It's about 3/4" long, along the shaft. It has a small flange about 3/4" dia and it's on there good. Smacking vice grips with a 3# dead blow doesn't budge it a bit. Can't even tell where this piece could have come from. Sure doesn't seem like a bearing component. Anybody out there had this issue?
I checked the other side and it has the expected smooth, tapered spindle shaft - no problems. Ideas?
02-10-2009, 04:58 PM
#2
S197 Section Modder-ator
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Orlando FL
Posts: 13,373
You got shafted! 
Hard to tell... Did you just bought the car?
Know the history of it?
I have seen people replacing bearing and forget to grease them, or more commonly, overtightening the axle nut...
Hard to tell... Did you just bought the car?
Know the history of it?
I have seen people replacing bearing and forget to grease them, or more commonly, overtightening the axle nut...
02-10-2009, 05:57 PM
#4
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,195
sounds like the inner sleeve portion of the wheel bearing got so hot it seized to the spindle. Did the bearing fall apart as you pulled the rotor off? If you have a lip to grab, try something like a harmonic balancer puller.
02-10-2009, 06:05 PM
#5
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 121
Got it. It's the inside portion of the outer bearing. It's siezed good. Tried heating it up a bit with a torch, vice-gripped it and then smaacked it with a dead blow and nothing.
Any ideas anybody? Thanks.
Any ideas anybody? Thanks.
02-10-2009, 06:08 PM
#6
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 121
Ahhh, just read your reply. You got it right and yes, the outer bearing is in pieces. I can give a puller a try but the flange/lip isn't much. Whatta pisser
02-10-2009, 06:37 PM
#8
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: WI
Posts: 277
use a dremmel or die grinder and CAREFULLY cut it in half. Hopefully you can get it off then.
Chances are though the spindle needs to be replaced. I would have to think the surface under the bearing will be all messed up
Chances are though the spindle needs to be replaced. I would have to think the surface under the bearing will be all messed up
02-11-2009, 09:44 AM
#10
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 121
I figured there's a good chance of ruining the spindle. My mechanic of many years (for the newer cars I can't work on), says he thinks it's not a problem and he can get it off.
As long as the raised metal is sanded flush and there's minimal marring of the surface, it should be ok. The origianl profile would stay the same and the bearing surface will decrease very little.
As long as the raised metal is sanded flush and there's minimal marring of the surface, it should be ok. The origianl profile would stay the same and the bearing surface will decrease very little.