Rear axle in my RX7- I have a tiny bit of in-out play which I was told is normal, but no side to side or up/down play. I do have a bit of a growl noise. I took the drums off and left the car in gear and it makes the noise while freewheeling so I know it is the rear axle bearings (pinion was not spinning, not brake dragging).
How bad is "too bad" with rear axle bearings? Will I notice more slop when they get "really" bad? I have a few things I want to do this year still- a drag day and a dyno day, and would like to drive it occasionally as well. I am planning on swapping the rear end for a LSD/disc brake unit next spring, so I don't really want to rip this rear end apart to swap bearings on it, but I don't want to render the car immobile until then.
Changing a rear wheel bearing on these is pretty easy iirc. I think you just pull the brakes off and the retainer plate and everything just pulls out.
Cut off old bearing. Heat up new bearing in some oil. Slide it down the shaft. Reassemble.
In reply to wvumtnbkr :
I know it's not a PITA. It's just more trouble (and money) than I want to put into a rear end I plan to send to the scrap heap in 3 months. There is nothing good in the '79-80 rear ends.
In reply to TheRX7Project :
Please don't scrap it. I have been looking for a small-axle drum brake rear for a while, so I can de-GSL my '81. (It had been converted to GSL rear by the PO, and I don't like that) And I way prefer the '79-80 brake setup than the self adjusters on -81-up.
And yes, axle bearings on the small axle rears die relatively easily. They generally grumble before they develop play.
In and out play may be the bearing loose on the axle, which is a thing that can happen when the bearings get grumbly. The only real fix for that is a new axle since the axle will actually too small where the bearing rides for a press fit. Some people (me included) have tack welded the bearing retainer in place to keep it from walking off, but welding on an axleshaft always gave me the heebie jeebies.
In reply to Knurled. :
Want to trade? I am looking for a '84-85 so I can eventually swap to the Torsen.
In reply to TheRX7Project :
I have a complete, unmolested GSL-SE rear (complete with brake cables!) but I'd want cash with the trade. I sold off all of my 4x110 big axleshafts a while ago, and the only GSL-SE stuff I have (besides the unmolested one) is twisted wreckage that I'm too stupid to scrap.
I'm not sure how the PMs work on this board... does it go to your email or?
yup. goes directly to e-mail.
TheRX7Project said:
I'm not sure how the PMs work on this board... does it go to your email or?
I receieved nothing... it's direct to e-mail and for whatever technical reason it does not work with some providers like Yahoo.
In reply to Knurled. :
email me jdarens@quad.com
