About that rear bearing tool.......

[Bill S.]

After talking to a Corvette repair shop owner I discovered that the plastic rear bearing tool used to lube the rear bearings will not only lube the inner bearing but the outer bearing as well. He tells me that the grease will travel in the spindle support "cavity" from the inner bearing to the outer bearing.
My understanding of this "greaser" was the grease does not get to the outer bearing --- So, this is why the Service Manual states to use 3 level tablespoons of grease? This amount is necessary to lube both???
More infro appreciated
Bill




Adirondack NCRS

[Chuck R.]

Re: About that rear bearing tool.......

Hi Bill,

I don't know about mid years, but with my 68, there is a rather large cavity between the inner and outter bearings so IF one of these greasers was used, you had better plan on at least two large cartridges for sure. That's alot of dead excess grease to deal with IF you ever have to tear the spindle down!

The only way that the grease can get from one point to the other is through the inner bearing roller assembly where it will fall into the cavity. Sounds like a slow process to me.

My concern would be (1) not knowing if the grease adequately made it all the way out to the outter bearing, and (2) applying too much grease/pressure that would either push by or push out the outter grease seal.

That could be devastating to the E-brakes not to mention the grease slinging around off the spindle.

Again, I'm not a C-2 guy but what the heck, my two pennys worth.

Chuck

[Mike M.]

Re: About that rear bearing tool.......

chuck makes good points. also, if one were to fill the cavity completely with wheel bearing grease, i suspect the big glob of grease would act as an insulator and allow heat build up with premature bearing failure. Pulling the spindle assembly apart every 25k miles is an unpleasant task but its the correct way to lube the bearings. mike

[Craig S.]

Re: About that rear bearing tool.......

I agree with Mike and Chuck...do it the right way....I have one of those gimmick greaser tools I bought years ago before I really checked...never been used, never will be......Craig

[Jim T.]

Re: About that rear bearing tool.......

I bought one of these plastic greasers back about 1976 and also have never used it. Having the tools to remove a spindle, if enough of the drivetrain is removed to use this tool, I am going to service both bearings and remove the spindle.

[Mike Cobine]

Re: About that rear bearing tool.......

Bill, you are geting a lot of negative responses to this issue. But I can tell you that I have several friends that have put a lot of miles on their cars using these tools with no problems.

Most fad tools do not last that long around Corvettes. If something doesn't work, word spreads fairly quickly. These greasing tools have been around a long time.

Currently there is at least one group doing the zert fitting in the trailing arm method. I can tell you this does not work. 27 years ago, we did this to a set and what we found is the grease seal stiffness is different on the outer from the inner. You pump grease into the middle of the cavity and it runs out the outer bearing. None goes to the inner bearing as the seal is stiffer on the inner.

Then you have grease in the emergency brake, the seal may be blown on the outer and let grease continue to leak out, and the inner stays dry.

The only way to get grease into the inner is to remove the halfshaft, the spindle flange, and then pump. But if you remove this much, you can use the little plastic tool!

It isn't worth wasting time to drill and insert a zert, and definitely not worth spending the money they want for their special trailing arms.

The best way is still to remove, pack the bearings, and reinstall.

Watch eBay, occasionally you see a spindle remover and installer on there much cheaper than Mid America, Eckler's, and so on sell them for.

Good luck.