Deuce wheel bearings...or lack of!

[randyscycle]

Finally got around to pulling the deuce brakes down to do all the wheel cylinders, fluid, hoses and front boots, when on both front wheels I found this. Surprisingly it didn't stop too bad. Not great, but not too bad considering the shoes hadn't touched the front drums in a loooooong time.

Glad I didn't just title it and head out on the road as is.

All new seals and bearings on the way, so we can go as well as stop.

 

[DanMartin]

Yikes!

Easy to fix though...

It looks like Mud got in there and goobered up the works.

 

[randyscycle]

Yeah, it was full of mud and chunks.

Pretty clean now after a good hosing and scrubbing of everything. And yes, no permanent damage!

 

[scooter01922]

gotta love a deuce , how many other trucks would have fared as well with the bearings looking like that, YIKES

 

[topo]

any chance the rear axles are the same ? any water in the third members or transfer case ?

 

[randyscycle]

any chance the rear axles are the same ? any water in the third members or transfer case ?

I'll see once I get there.....The fluids (transfer, diffs, trans) were all OK albeit a bit dirty. It all appears to be at the wheels.

 

[Big Mike's Motor Pool]

nice catch on that one. its catastrophic when the wheel bearings decide to fall apart. the wheel comes off. how badly rotted is the spindle??

 

[m16ty]

I've never seen a wheel bearing in that bad of shape that hasn't come apart. Did the wheel spin freely before you broke it down?

 

[OPCOM]

Makes me wonder if they ran out of grease and improvised using cheese like we used to when the stagecoach bearings would overheat and sieze up.

 

[Barrman]

Glad you found that at home instead of on the road Randy. Put one piece boots on and you won't mess with anything in there for a while.

 

[FMJ]

WOW

That looks like a seriously bad day in the making.....

 

[Somemedic]

Nothing like going down the road and having one of your wheels pass you up.... bad day indeed

 

[kurtkds]

So was that bearing rumbling or grumbling before you got a chance to tear it down?? Just curious?

 

[maddawg308]

That is scary looking. Makes me nervous and wanting to tear down my wheels as well and take a look. Be glad you caught it when you did!

 

[FreightTrain]

you DID replace the bearing and race didn't ya?No way I would reuse bearings that looked like that even if they looked good after cleaning....Yowsa!

 

[Big Mike's Motor Pool]

find a bearing and drive supply house in your area. i saved about $144

 

[randyscycle]

I never really drove the truck more than a mile or two up the road, simply because I expected to find a few things that needed attention before I struck out on any kind of drive. Most everything has been on the property at slow speeds. With the whistler, I probably wouldn't have heard it until it fell off

The wheel did spin fairly free, when I jacked it up, but had some lateral play. No surprise there looking at it..

Its getting ALL new bearings, seals: inner and outer on the rear, and a complete teardown to install new one-piece boots. The boot on that wheel wasn't torn, but its really soft and mushy feeling, and I suspect since there was no gasket on the axle flange, and the inner bearing seal was really stiff and old, that the water found its way in there too.

The spindle seems to just be surface rust and not pitting or anything I'd be worried about. It actually cleaned up really well in there with just a good shot of Super Clean and a hose.

So as soon as the UPS driver shows up with my seals and boots, I can start going back together.

 

[Floridianson]

Kinda looks like you spun the race.

 

[kendelrio]

I had some bearings go out on me.... Luckily didn't do too much damage...

 

[randyscycle]

Kinda looks like you spun the race.

Nope....just rusty, once I pulled the bearings off the spindles, they hadn't turned or galled at all. The races were still able to read the numbers on the outside once I drove them out of the drums.