Wt Sierra rear axle bearing problem

[Mr Emu]

G'day,

In recent times i have gone through a couple of rear axle oil seals and have been having a few brake problems on the the rear left corner of my 91 Wide Track sierra.

Where the bearing and axle slide into the diff housing i was under the assumption that you had to tap it in on instalation and the bearing would fit snuggly into its little spot and stay there. And on removal would have to be tapped out a bit to remove it. I beleive this is what it has done on previous cars i have had and this one till recently.

After closer inspection i have noticed that with the rear left wheel off the ground i can slide the axle/bearing in and out maybe 5mm's and you can hear it tap on the back of the drum brake plate, so really this is the only thing appearing to hold it in.

Anyone have any ideas on how to over come this problem and to why it has happened?
There are no problems with the drivers side.
Sorry for the long post.
Thankyou Ian

[BlueSuzy]

Sounds like you have a worn housing?

Have you tried Loctite bearing retainer? (Green glue)

The backing plate will hold the bearing in also.

I would replace the housing...

[weaves]

It sounds like your bearing has collapsed, and inner ring is moving back and forth through the outter ring.

weaves

[Mr Emu]

Thanks for the reply. The bearing is in good condition, have pulled it out a couple of time replacing seals and seeing what was happening. I think a new housing might be the go.
Thanks Ian

[PJ.zook]

I wouldnt go replacing the housing yet. The drum brake backing plate acts as a retainer and should hold the bearing in snug with no movement. If the bearing is in good nick, then most likely the backing plate is bent, or even maybe the wrong bearing.
Even if the outer race of the bearing moves in and out of the housing easily, this still isnt a huge concern as long as its not severely worn. You should not be any slop between the outer race and housing if you try to move bearing up and down. If there is then yeh housing prob needs replacing. If there isnt slop and bearings just not tight, then get a centrepunch and make punchmarks in the housing every 10mm or so around where the middle of the bearing race would sit. Dont go nuts, just a light tap so you can feel it with youre finger, then use bearing glue (stuff i use comes in a small tube and is a deep green with consistancy of snot). Put a light smear inside housing, then insert bearing and axle. No need to go nuts, just a light smear enough to lightly cover surface.
Hope it helps.

[HedgeBoar]

I wouldn't go using bearing retainer in the housing. For one thing, ideally the outer race will (very slowly) creep around to even out the wear on it. Also, if you use the wrong kind (there are a large number of different bearing retainer compounds in loctite's range) you'll make it rather difficult to remove the axle -- especially without damaging the bearing.

As others have said, sounds like your backing plate is damaged or you have the wrong bearing installed.

[weaves]

Like the guys said, you may have the wrong bearing in there.

the one that should be in there will be ID 35mm x OD 72mm x W 22mm Outter ring / W 27mm inner ring, it should have a extended inner ring on one side.

you may have got the NT kit which has the same parts, but is missing the extended inner ring. it will be flush.

weaves

[Mr Emu]

I've pulled it apart again. It appears the backing plates are bowed, bent outward around the centre, allowing play for the bearing. They must have bent them when i last got the bearings done being why the problem is a new one.

Might be time for some new backing plates, and new bearings seeing they have to come off to and will centre punch the housing a little to help retain the bearing to make it all work properly.

Thanks for the advise!
Ian

[joeblow]

if you are having all these dramas, and when you put the new stuff in and STILL have the same issues............then you have a bent housing.

[bazooked]

not really but it is possible, check the width of the seal and the ring that holds the bearing on, if that ring is to narrow it will miss the seal, and the wrong width seal will also cause u slop, i do not recomend using a centre punch to tighten a bearing thats just rough