Rear wheel bearing issue...

[Capt. Methane]

I try to get US made parts when I can and I don't object to paying the extra money because cheap parts fail sooner or don't work as well in most cases.

Still, sometimes something runs amok and that's the boat I'm in now...er, or at least with the truck on jackstands, the rear wheels, drums and axles pulled and trash bags over all of the new brake parts!

The issue is a set of Timken 28682 bearings, the inner bearings for the rear wheels. When I tried to reinstall the drum & hub with the new bearings and wheel seal it stuck a little less than an inch from fully seated. When I got it un-stuck the bearing pulled the new wheel seal out of the hub (destroying it!) and leaving the bearing stuck about 1/8th inch onto it's spot on the axel.

The old bearings were 28682 but had a +, the new bearings are the same number and some other markings and I cannot measure a difference with 6" dial calipers (sorry, no inside micrometer), both are USA made Timken bearings. The old bearing is snug but will go on, there is no way that the new one will fit.

Anyone have any ideas? This one has me stumped!

 

[Capt. Methane]

Well, it has to be something with the left hand axle because first thing this morning I tried one of the new bearings on the right axle and it fit snugly but went on like it should. I still have no idea why the old bearings will fit the left one and a new one won't, I guess I'll gently apply some crocus cloth very carefully until one of the new bearings goes on...

Poor old truck, I continue to discover that the previous owner didn't do it any favors but how this particular fault was accomplished I have no idea!

 

[HHhuntitall]

From my experience, it's just tolerances in finish machining from the manufacturer, both from Dana and Timken. I've had the same problems for years. If you get a cold morning(or put an ice pack on the axle tube) allow the axle to cool off, then gently heat the bearing so it's just hot enough you can't hold it without gloves... should slip on pretty easy.... that doesn't help installing the seal, I know...

 

[Capt. Methane]

Well, I feel kind of silly but it was all temperature related. First thing in the morning bearings went onto the axle housing fine. Later that day it was impossible...it may involve finish quality but it came down to temps for the solution.

HUH???

The axle housing was in the sun so while ambient temps were low the axle was getting warmed up as the day progressed. Meanwhile the bearings were being installed into the hubs in the shade and staying down around freezing. I left the bearings and hubs sitting in the sun coming through a window and inside the house to warm up for a couple of hours and they went on just like they should have!

Sorry it took so long to report the finding-I finally got the old gal back on her wheels and immediately got sidetracked by having to install an external voltage regulator to get the Alternator charging the battery again...

 

[mfurrh55]

Well, I feel kind of silly but it was all temperature related. First thing in the morning bearings went onto the axle housing fine. Later that day it was impossible...it may involve finish quality but it came down to temps for the solution.

HUH???

The axle housing was in the sun so while ambient temps were low the axle was getting warmed up as the day progressed. Meanwhile the bearings were being installed into the hubs in the shade and staying down around freezing. I left the bearings and hubs sitting in the sun coming through a window and inside the house to warm up for a couple of hours and they went on just like they should have!

Sorry it took so long to report the finding-I finally got the old gal back on her wheels and immediately got sidetracked by having to install an external voltage regulator to get the Alternator charging the battery again...

Glad to hear that was the problem, I will have to remember this if I run into same problem, Thanks for letting us know the fix

 

[sdeeter19555]

You can use an incandescent lightbulb to heat bearings very nicely. We made a bearing heater with a cord, 4x4 steel box, and a ceramic lampholder. Simply set the bearing on the lightbulb and it will do the rest...only need a 100 watt bulb.

We did this when rebuilding rear differentials...the outer pinion bearings are pressed on, this saves pressing anything.

You can also put things in the freezer, although bigger parts might be a little taxing...

 

[Capt. Methane]

A lamp would have worked very nicely! I ended up draping the rear of the truck with a tarp to trap the cooler air and keep the sun off the concrete and axle and set the hubs with the inner bearing and seal installed and the outer bearings in the sun to warm up and it worked like a champ!

Spring has returned to God's Country and I'm not going to have to deal with that cold nonsense until the end of the year...