Seating front inner bearings on '73

[Joseph A.]

I recently had Bair's rebuild my rear trailing arms and my front rotors and hubs. I have new front inner wheel bearings to pack and insert. I am told that the inner bearings need to seat and that this takes some degree of force to get them to seat. Can someone who has been through this before give me the story on this and what to do to get them to seat properly. I believe torque on the front spindle nut is 12 foot pounds while spinning the wheel and then back off the spindle nut 1 flat. Is this correct? Thanks for your help. Joe - 46306

[Stephen L.]

Re: Seating front inner bearings on '73

I assume you are talking about the bearing "race" which is inserted into the hub. My technique is to use the old race as a "tool" and us it to drive the new one in until it seats. You can tell when this happens as you tap on the old race with a hammer. Note: place the old race against the new one in such a manner that you can easily drive the old one back out with a punch when you are finished... In other words do not match up the inner diameters.
If you are attempting to make sure the bearing is in the race completely, just tighten the nut to a snug/tight fit and then back off to the cotter pin hole. There should be no play in the assy and the wheel should turn freely.

[Joe L.]

Re: Seating front inner bearings on '73

Joe------

I believe that you're referring to the bearing RACES, not the bearings themselves. These races, inner and outer, are driven into the hub. The best way to do it is to use a special tool designed for the purpose. These are called bearing race drivers and they are used with a hammer. You can purchase them quite inexpensively. Otherwise, you can use an old race with its OD slightly ground down, a 1/4" or thicker steel plate, and a hammer.

The front spindle nuts are adjusted as you described.

[Joseph A.]

Re: Seating front inner bearings on '73

Thanks Steve and Joe. You guys are a great help to a guy like me who's doing most of this work for the first time. I really appreciate your help. Thanks much. Joe - 46306

[Wayne W.]

Re: Seating front inner bearings on '73

I dont know about that 12 ft. lbs. stuff. Thats a whole lot of torque on a bearing that is really supposed to have no preload.

[Jim T.]

Re: Seating front inner bearings on '73

My 64 service manual says 2. Tighten spindle nut to 15 ft. lbs. (or 180 in. lbs.) torque while rotating wheel. 3. Back off adjusting nut one flat and insert cotter pin. 4. If slot and cotter pin hole do not align, back off adjusting nut an additional 1/2 flat or less as required to insert cotter pin. 5. Spin the wheel to make sure that it rolls freely, properly lock the cotter pin by spreading the end and bending it around.
My 69-70-71 service manuals have 2. While rotating wheel, tighten spindle nut to 12 ft. lbs. torque. Rest is like the 64 manual. There is additonal information, Note: Bearings should have zero preload and .001" to .008" end movement when properly adjusted.

[John H.]

Re: Seating front inner bearings on '73

Also note that there are TWO cotter pin holes in the spindle - one horizontal, and one vertical; allows you to find a hole every 1/12th of a turn of the nut. 1/12th of a turn is .004" of end play.