Re: [FWDLK] rear axle shaft leak and shims ('57 Imp)

["Owen & Jo Grigg" <ram300@xxxx>]

There is a mis-print in the workshop manual, the rear axle end play on your
'57, is .003"- 008" NOT .013-018".
I just did my rear axle and tryed to acheive between .003-.005" as things
tend to loosen up over time.
Owen
----- Original Message -----
From: Philippe COURANT <accf_clb@xxxx>
To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxx>
Sent: Sunday, July 07, 2002 8:03 AM
Subject: [FWDLK] rear axle shaft leak and shims ('57 Imp)


> I've some problem on my '57 Imperial: a leak of axle oil in the
> left drum after my 1000 miles trip in May. First thought was to
> blame the inner oil seal (which was replaced when i restored the
> car) but after some checks it seems that the axle shaft has a lot
> of transversal play so the following culprit was the outer
> bearings. If the bearing goes bad, the inner (and outer) oil seal
> goes bad.. I order the seals and the bearings (2788A-2735X,
> specific to Imperial..) and today i remove the axle shafts.
> Surprise ! There was a big axial play, at least 0.15 inch on each
> axle shaft between cup and bearing.. The inner oil seal was
> completly destroyed, the rubber/spring seal part was laying
> around the axle completly separated of its housing !
> I discovered that when i restore the axle, i forgotten to put the
> "preload" shim: when you remove the rear brake plate you find
> between brake support and axle shaft flange: a thick shim (around
> 1/10 inch) and "shimming" plates (various dimensions from 0.010
> to 0.030). The "shims" have a large bore, larger than the bearing
> cup, the "thick shim" has a smaller diameter equal to the bearing
> cup. So when you 'shim" rear axle shaft, you add shim plates
> between axle flange and "thick plate" which (with brake support)
> preloads the bearing (according to FSM you must have a 0.013 to
> 0.018 end play at each axle).
> And i forgotten to use this plate ! So the bearing was only
> preload with the brake support.. Not very good as the brake
> support is thin .. You'll not find in the FSM this "thick" plate
> with smaller bore, itsn't also in the Parts manual (no # part)
> but i had in my garage since two years 2 "shims" hanged to a
> nail.. As i removed the axle 6 years ago i forgotten them !
> Now i have a 0.007 end play, smaller than origin but with driving
> i think i'll have a 0.013 in some miles..
>
> Other thought: the outer bearing has no provision to grease it
> from outside. It is enclosed between inner and outer oil seals so
> no oil lubrication except leaks... So how to grease it (it is not
> very easy to remove axle shafts..) ? Itsn't a sealed bearing or a
> "life" warranty bearing.. No indications in the FSM lubrication
> chapter. I've put a lot of grease ..
>
> If someone needs 2788A-2735X bearings i've a pair of new Timken
> ...(bought from Dallas seller, thanks John !). And no thank to
> Andy Ber... who sent me wrong (outer) oil seals, no bearings and
> wrong filters for a friend..
>
> --
> Philippe COURANT (Pau, France)
> Imperial 57 Crown convertible
> Buick 58 Roadmaster sedan
>
> - American Car Club de France (ACCF) : http://www.accf.com
>
> - Chrysler Imperial France : http://www.ifrance.com/c-i-f
>
> - Cadillac " Standard of Excellence " :
> http://www.ifrance.com/accf-cad
>
> - SportsCars : http://www.ifrance.com/accf-sprtcar
>
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