Since I have never

P

Phil Noonon

Member
Since I have never had rear drums off the pickup I could use some information to help me along. I have a slight wobble on left wear wheel. I changed tires to eliminate bent wheel or worn tire as a cause.

Would a worn bearing be the most likely cause........how tight should the bearing fit inside the hub? I did torque axle nut and it did seem to lessen the wobble, but could have just been my imagination.

Any thought would be appreciated!

Thanks
Phil
 
I would remove the drum in question and check the hub and axle taper for wear. Also a shim might be in there, but worn or squeezing out of place. I've seen a couple shims that look like they were run over by a train.
 
Phil Noonon said:
Since I have never had rear drums off the pickup I could use some information to help me along. I have a slight wobble on left wear wheel. I changed tires to eliminate bent wheel or worn tire as a cause.

Would a worn bearing be the most likely cause........how tight should the bearing fit inside the hub? I did torque axle nut and it did seem to lessen the wobble, but could have just been my imagination.

Any thought would be appreciated!

Thanks
Phil
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Phil,

I am concerned when you may not know high tight that rear axle nut should be, a couple of hundred foot pounds, but see the archives for opinions. A loose wheel nut will result in a broken axle followed in short order with the wheel leaving the car (hopefully not while on the freeway). If the rear axle nut is tight you will need a good puller to remove the rear hub from the axle (I use the reproduction KR Wilson puller but see the archives). I wonder if the slight wobble you still have is the axle starting to fail, you should check it. I doubt a worn bearing would be the cause of the wobble but if it is you should be able to easily see that amount of wear in the bearing and the surface where it rides.

Charlie Stephens
 
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Phil Noonon said:
Tom, when you say check for wear, what does that mean? abrasions, gouges??
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With a sheared key in the axle, the axle will spin inside the hub. This can create worn or rough spots. Rough as in lines around the axle taper from turning inside a hub with no lubrication. Imagine a rod bearing spinning with no lube on it.:eek:
 
Phil, the most dangerous of all possibilities for a wobble is a bent axle, as mentioned. When I see a wobble on the rear the first thing I do is jack up the axle just on the wobble side and remove the wheel, then start the engine and put it in gear and let out the clutch and let the axle turn at idle. If the brake drum is still wobbling you know it's not just the wheel. So, now the most important questions is: is it the axle? So, pull the brake drum and restart the car as above and watch the axle. If the axle is wobbling the axle is bent and it's a matter of a short time until the axle breaks and, as mentioned, the wheel falls off - could be very dangerous!!! If the axle is bent the only cure is to replace the axle.
 
stouchton said:
AND NOW, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have the connection to the avatar! :eek:

(sorry - couldn't help myself, been a rough day at work.....)
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STEAM is SUPREME!:D

Just last Saturday I rode the restored 45 foot steam powered Minnehaha passenger boat. You can sit right next to the triple expansion steam engine and watch all the moving parts almost silently pushing the ship along. Pretty neat for a 45 minute ride for $5.:) The captain also explains the history of the boat and the islands he goes around.
 
Larry Seemann said:
Phil, the most dangerous of all possibilities for a wobble is a bent axle, as mentioned. When I see a wobble on the rear the first thing I do is jack up the axle just on the wobble side and remove the wheel, then start the engine and put it in gear and let out the clutch and let the axle turn at idle. If the brake drum is still wobbling you know it's not just the wheel. So, now the most important questions is: is it the axle? So, pull the brake drum and restart the car as above and watch the axle. If the axle is wobbling the axle is bent and it's a matter of a short time until the axle breaks and, as mentioned, the wheel falls off - could be very dangerous!!! If the axle is bent the only cure is to replace the axle.
Click to expand...

The only problem is without the hub and bearing there is nothing to keep the axle held in place and centered. Running the axle this way would chew up the axle seal inside the axle tube.
 
pulled the drum and everything looks good. I will start the engine with drum off and look carefully at the rotation of the axle. How far does the axle key extend toward the backing plate? should you bring the key out to the end of the axle and they mate it with the slot in the hub or what? did a search but did not find anything. maybe it is too simple of a question.')
 
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