chevy 10 bolt axle bearings

streetrodderbn said:

I hear the faint growl of axle bearings in my son's z28, how hard is it to change axle bearings and seals? We are dealing with a 1978 z28 with the original 10 bolt chevy rear.

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Not hard, you need either a correct puller, or use a slide hammer w/a fabbed up thick washer that'll go inside the bearing's ID to pop it out. I just pull the bearings and seals at the same time.

What you're probably gonna also find, is a worn axle. The ****ty set-up used by GM has the bearing using the axle OD as the "inner race" of the axle bearing. There are "axle saver" bearings available that uses a different portion of the axle for the bearing surface, if yours are too far gone.

Better yet are new axles from Strange, etc. along w/a C-clip eliminator.

Be aware that an axle will make noise for a variety of reasons- backlash, diff/pinion bearings, spider gears/shaft, low lube, etc. U-joints can be noisy. Unlikely, but ranny noise can telescope down the d-shaft, as well.

If its a street car,just replace the axles if they're bad. C-Clip elimators are a pain and you end up ruining your housing installing them.

summit racing has a kit with new axles,bearing,seals, and studs from superior axle for $265.00 That is probably the way I'll go. Ill pull the axles tonite or tomorrow, to verify my suspicions, but I can tell an axle bearing noise after all these years. imp: