8 ¾ Rear outer bearing race spinning in axle housing - 1968 Dart GTS 340

[RustyRatRod]

Thanks. I think my original photo of the outer race wasn’t very clear. Not to be a contrarian, but I think these new photos do show evidence of the race spinning in the housing. If you can zoom in, there are circumferential lines and heat marks. I wish I had checked to see if the side-to-side lash was too tight or loose before I disassembled it. The grease was pretty dried out, and was likely original.

View attachment 1716514624

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Possibly, but very, very little. If it was really spinning wholesale, the stamped part number would be at the very least distorted. Looks like to me what happened is, it sat up long enough for the grease to dry and when it moved the next time the race might have spun for a very short time and stopped. The thing here is, it takes much, much less to spin the axle in a good, properly lubricated bearing than it does to make the race spin in the axle housing. If it had been spinning hard and fast, there just wouldn't be a lot left of the outside surface of the race or the housing bore. Suit yourself. It's your car. Do what you want. The factory service manual mentions nothing about anything there. If this was a real issue, there'd be a LOT of spun races and tore up axle housing ends. There aren't. Just know if you use a Locktite product, you'll be setting yourself up for a possible pain in the butt axle removal next time. Good luck with it.

 

[atedepumpo]

You'll get those same lines installing the bearing if it chatters (talks) at all going in. Those don't look like heat marks to me at all. Just regular oil staining from not being a super tight fit.

What's the comic underneath the axle?

The comic ... one of the guys at the shop brings in his old newspapers for workbench liners. Not to get myself into trouble, but it's the Washingon Post which doesn't seem to to be good for much else .

 

[atedepumpo]

Was the axle leaking or making noise? Why did you decide to dig into it? Sorry if I missed that part.

I'm doing a full restoration/detailing of the underside of the car. I only drove it a little bit before I started taking things apart. The axle did not appear to be leaking, and I didn't notice any horrible noise in the rear in the little bit that I drove it.

 

[atedepumpo]

Possibly, but very, very little. If it was really spinning wholesale, the stamped part number would be at the very least distorted. Looks like to me what happened is, it sat up long enough for the grease to dry and when it moved the next time the race might have spun for a very short time and stopped. The thing here is, it takes much, much less to spin the axle in a good, properly lubricated bearing than it does to make the race spin in the axle housing. If it had been spinning hard and fast, there just wouldn't be a lot left of the outside surface of the race or the housing bore. Suit yourself. It's your car. Do what you want. The factory service manual mentions nothing about anything there. If this was a real issue, there'd be a LOT of spun races and tore up axle housing ends. There aren't. Just know if you use a Locktite product, you'll be setting yourself up for a possible pain in the butt axle removal next time. Good luck with it.

Thanks, and I appreciate your input for sure. I am starting to come around to thinking that it may have just been improper lubrication from dry, caked grease. The previous owner had the car for 30 years, and only drove it about 2,000 miles, but he did keep it garaged and licensed. That would jive with your comments about sitting. I received new bearings today. I’ll see how snug or loose the outer race fits into the housing, and then will make a decision based on the input from all you guys.