[fast5]

Have a 1957 Chevy Rear End (8.5?? Hotchkiss?? it´s frontloaded ??
don´t know the exact Name) in my Rod.
Since yesterday it makes bad noise from the left side.
The wheel on the left is little , very little loose.

Anybody an idea ??

Thanks from Germany

Quirin

[SDLuck]

8.2 take out 4 bolts flip the brake drum over put it on loosely use as a slide hammer pull axle old bearing needs to be pressed or cut off and new one pressed on

[fast5]

Sure it is the bearing? Thank you very much.
So i have to search for 8.2 axle parts in germany...puh.

Quirin

[Barry.M]

G'day fast5

Those 1955-64 Chevy rearends also have a collar which is pressed onto the rear side of the bearing to hold the bearing in place. It is not uncommon for a high mileage diff to have this collar slip back towards the spline end. This will then allow the axle to move in and out of the housing 5-20mm. The worse it gets the easier the axle "hammers" against the collar.

If it continues the axle will pop right out, potentially causing all sorts of drama and damage.

I had this very problem on our 64 Chev Impala, left wheel/axle started moving in and out. Noticed it while driving getting a bit "loose" in the rear while cornering, thought I was dreaming initially ? . Anyway it was an easy fix.

They are a standard type of "cage" bearing that you should be able to find even in Germany I would expect from an Industrial bearing supplier. The only hassle will be that you will need to pull the axle and remove the bearing so that you can be sure of getting the right part. Or take the whole axle assembly and the Bearing Salesperson can measure it up, and maybe even fit it for you ??

The bearings and retainer collar are a press fit. You can use a press to fit the bearing and collar but if not available an ingenious hotrodder can do it without such equipment with some care and patience and a bit of time.

Hope this helps.......Barry.

[fast5]

Hi Barry,
I think you are just right with your guess.
Only driving very slow corners it hammers like
something broke, not just an old bearing.

Is it possible to press the collar back ?
I try to pull the axle first

Thanks

[Barry.M]

G'day fast5,

Yes it is possible to press the collar/retainer back. When you do make sure you peen or centre punch the axle surface so as to slow down or stop the collar moving out again. This worked in our BB Impala for a while, but I had to resort to two little spot welds to do the job. Many people I have told this too have cringed, but the axle hasn't broken yet............"touch wood"

Another option would be to have a new collar/retainer machined slightly smaller on the ID .001-003" so it is a good tight interference fit and have a 4 or 5mm thread installed through the collar for a set screw. That should stop it !.

Cheers...........Barry

[fast5]

pulled the axle,
the bearing looks like being at the wrong place, or ??



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Quirin

[SSedan64]

"GM 55P" Rear Info>> http://www.ringpinion.com/DiffDetail...=5&Diff=GM+55P

[Barry.M]

G'day fast5,

That is the correct orientation in your photo. You don't need the locating collar to slip much to give you that "wobbly" feeling in the rear end. Could you move the axle in and out when you raised the rear wheels off the ground ?. It is a bit difficult to seen in the photo, but if the bearing and collar have moved it doesn't look like much at this point......lucky !.

Keep us posted with what you find.

Cheers...........Barry.

[fast5]

Hi Barry,
yes, i could move the Wheel a little bit.
Only the left one, the right ist fix.
Push/pull at the wheel doing klick-klack-klick.

I try to push the collar 0.5mm towards the bearing, or

thanks

Quirin