1959 axle housing ring spacers

[Jerry Sexton]

I am missing the ring spacers behind the rear axle housing bearings.
Does anyone know where I can find these.
Thanks Much
Jerry

[Joe L.]

Re: 1959 axle housing ring spacers

Jerry-----

If you have a positraction axle, I believe the spacer you need is GM #3750617. For non-posi it should be GM #3851557. Both pieces are long-since GM discontinued. I think that Dale Pearman, who frequents this board, has available for sale many original C1 parts. Some say that Dale provides absolutely HUGE discounts to folks on the NCRS Discussion Board. Others say that he charges these folks a premium. I don't know who to believe inasmuch as I practically never purchase C1 parts.

[Clark McEwen]

Re: 1959 axle housing ring spacers

So Dale....which is it?

[James F.]

Re: 1959 axle housing ring spacers

Jerry,
These ring spacer(s) are what is hold the bearing on the axle shaft! Don't drive with out them! Regards,

[Ed Jennings]

Re: 1959 axle housing ring spacers

I have some sort of vauge memory of some change in replacement bearings that uses a different spacer or something like that. I may have had one too many martinis and destroyed the brain cells that held that info. Anything to my "vauge memory"?

[John M.]

Re: 1959 axle housing ring spacers

Most of the aftermarket bearings were thicker and used no spacer, so a lot of them were just pulled off and thrown away! Keep in mind that unless you are using an Original GM bearing or same style bearing, you do not use the spacer.
John

[Ed Jennings]

Re: 1959 axle housing ring spacers

I must have stopped drinking martinis just in time!

[James F.]

Re: 1959 axle housing ring spacers

Guys,
If I am taking the same spacer (the installation instructions I recently downloaded from John Hinckley (thanks John) calls them a retainer ring, if repro bearings don't used them WHAT HOLDS THE AXLE in the differential? Friction fit? Are these the same spacers (retainer ring) that the solid axle guys who raced these beasts were encouraged to tack weld onto the axle to prevent loosing the axle? The ST -12 shows a '53-'55 rear axle cutaway and there is no retainer ring behind this outer axle bearing because the axles have a "C" ring (retainer) inside the differential. The cutaway drawing in my '58 Service Book does show a retainer ring behind the outer bearing, "C" rings no longer being used. John's installation instructions is titled "Instructions for installing Hyatt rear wheel bearings JRN 1542 WAB-27 Chevrolet 1957 through 1963 axles." There is a retainer ring behind the bearing. Don't drive home without one. Regards,

[Dale Pearman]

Re: 1959 axle housing ring spacers

Prices are determined by supply and demand. RPO 276 wheels, $2,000.00 each.
Custom aluminum oil filler caps, $2.00 each.

I like to assist other C1 owners in finding hard to get items as much as others of us enjoy offering advice. I don't rely on the selling of parts for an income.

Dale.

[Dale Pearman]

CONFUSION In The Ranks

There is a "lock" ring that press fits aginst the bearing and axle to retain the bearing to the axle. All original AND replacement bearings use this ring.

The original ball bearings, as well as roller bearings for posi, measured 0.9 inches thick and required a spacer ring 0.1 inches thick to be used behind the bearing and in the bearing well. These are the ones that are hard to find since the R607 replacement bearings are 1.00 inches thick and folks throw away the original spacers. The R607 fills the bearing well without the spacer but still uses the LOCK RING.

These replacement 607s confuse even the best of machinists. They were intended for use in lathes as well as other machinery but work also for Corvette axles. They come with a green or black dust cover and an oil seal that is installed backwards so as to trap lubricant and prevent it from reaching the bearing.

In order to correctly use these bearings, the oil seal must be removed and reinstalled on the OUTBOARD side of the bearing (or a new seal used) after the dust cover has been removed and discarded. Failure to follow this procedure means oil leakage all over again and bearing failure after about 25,000 miles.

The backward seal prevents lubrication and when the shipping grease goes away severe heat causes the backward seal to fail allowing differential fluid to run through the bearing and leak on the brake shoes.

No installation instructions are included with these 607 bearings and I have replaced incorrectly installed bearings for other owners at least 20 times over the years. The two rubber rings on these 607s are just to keep debris out of the bearing well. They are NOT seals.

Dale.