Rear wheel bearings

Chips58 said: Looks like I have to take the trailing arm out to knock the spindle out. Is there an easy way of getting that damn trailing arm bolt out???

yes.. use a reciprocating saw

replace bolts with stainless

thought as much thanks.....

I guess I'll have to go and buy one now.

Chips58 said: thought as much thanks..... I guess I'll have to go and buy one now.

a vacuum pump/gauge, angle grinder, and reciprocating saw are my most used corvette tools.. especially of late..



although I practically contrive circumstances to use a cutting torch.

|UPDATED|8/24/2004 8:13:20 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

I love my torch. I once bet my students that I could cut a nut off of a bolt with out hurting the threads on the bolt. They didn't believe me. I won.

Finally got one side out (I'm juggling about 15 projects at once) without having to resort to the saw!

I ended up hitting one side of the nut with a air chisel then rotating 180 deg and hitting the other side of the nut the same. Sort of like using a torch to expand the nut, but didn't want to do that with all the F/glass in the area. Came out pretty easy. Man you need pretty thin fingers to get the bolt out in amongst all the framwork and brake line brackets.

Sooooo much easier to knock the spindle out once you can put the entire trailing arm on something solid.

Hope the other side comes out just as easy. Then the new bearings will go in and I can start on the gearbox.

I'm having withdrawal symptoms with the Vette off the road but at least I have my Harley to ride.

Well I got both of my trailing arms off today. It really wasn't too bad. After looking at them closely, I think that I'm gonna go for the completely new full assembley (trailing arms, bearings, spindles, parking brakes). I know this is going to cost me some extra bucks, but I want the peace of mind that everything is new - now that I saw all the componants off the car.

They really weren't in that bad of condition for 30 years, but you could see where the welds were showing age, and surface rust starting. I will be glad that they are all done right when I'm finished. I'll have some pictures for you soon.

gmurray said: I know this is going to cost me some extra bucks, but I want the peace of mind that everything is new

the peace of mind is probably worth every extra dime.

Buy rebuilt trailing arns.
No hassele.
no tools yo buy,and you get a warantee.And you will probably never have to do them again!
Steve

The unfortunate part is I live in Australia and to buy replacements would cost a fortune. I don't mind buying the replacement as all are good prices but shipping and customs taxes to get them into Oz is the killer. Come on the free trade agreement.

Guess I'll just have to rebuild them myself.

Hey Chips,

Go to: http://www.fastcorvette.com/RearSpindleSchool.htm

I also e-mailed Alan and he was very helpful in explaining the whole process (I was thinking of doing it myself originally).

Glenn