Hello Alvin A long time ago, an old timer taught me the same method you used to get the bearing and retainer off your rear axles. Over the years I rebuilt many 9 inch ford differentials a well as axle bearings and seals. In my later years in invested in a 12 ton shop press and a slide hammer.. At the time they were not expensive. I still have them both. Time savers indeed. I enjoy following your videos. Always a pleasure and excellent learning experience. Thanks Alvin: Walt
Hi Walt, a larger bench press is something I really need to invest in, there have been a few job where it would have been better suited to use a press...changing these bearing is one of those job. 👍
Hey John, Cutting is a good way to remove the bearings if you don't have a bench press large enough for the axle, the trick is not to go crazy with the cutting...there's no need to sink the cutoff blade in until it cuts the axle, just a good scoring will do the trick. But if you have a press, then that is the best way to do this job.
I don't know if it would have been a better setup to get the lube from the diff hub or not. When one of these bearings go to the point of destruction, it doesn't contaminate the differential, that's one advantage I can think of.
Hey Alvin, interesting procedure. When I do rear wheel bearings, I take them out of the diff and hand them over to the automotive machine shop and let them do it. I've actually never replaced any bearings myself. You made it look so easy. I've done hundreds for customers and I believe that most of these old Thunderbirds have worn out bearings. They usually don't last 50 plus years. Even if they are not noisy they could still be worn out. Did you check the gear oil level? Someone once told me that Ford used whale oil for the rear axles back in the day. I wonder if that is true. GM used whale oil up until the early 70's for their transmissions so its probably true. Thanks.
The gear oil that came out of my 64 galaxie was a black varnish that stained everything about a year and a half ago. It didn't have a gear oil smell at all to it. It was a horrible mess to get the axle tubes and housing cleaned out.
Hi Nick, I had not heard that whale oil was used, but it makes sense that it would be something like that...there were gear boxes in use before the current oil industry, and whaling was a massive industry for a reason, not just for lamp oil. I did check the gear oil level, it was a little low, but since I am planning to change the pinion bearing & seal, I figured I would wait to add oil then. The new bearings made a huge difference in the ride noise, and I agree, likely most of these old cars have worn out bearings...roller bearings would have been a better setup, and I my be wrong, but I think there are other applications with 9" Ford differential that do use a roller bear, maybe Jeep?
@@J_R_Shop Yep, I'd say if the rear axle hasn't been pulled apart before it's time to take it apart even if it is working fine. When I did the rear axle on my galaxie it was quiet as can be with all that varnished sludge of what used to be oil and the wheel bearings were super stiff and notchy to turn by hand, and the passenger side had the bearing and seal replaced once in the past already. 159,000 miles when I pulled it apart.
I always learn something new from your videos - too late now as I paid a repair garage to press mine off a few years back. I thought you might have put new oilseals in at the same time?
Hi David, you are correct about the seals, I ordered a set, but of course they still haven't arrived. I am planning to pull the center section in the near future, I'll replace the axle seals at the same time.
Maybe you can help me out, as I broke a couple of lug studs and working on replacing, but they won’t tap out on their own even with the heat and DW 40 so they’ll have to be pressed out and wondering to remove the whole lug outer part do you need to remove the axle as well. Thanks for any advice you have.
Are you working on a Ford 9" diff, like the one I show in this video? If so, and you feel you need to have them pressed out...you will need to pull the axle, it's all one piece.
Excellent as always - thank you. Another old memory dusted off. This was one of the few jobs I didn’t do when rebuilding mine. ~ Chuck
Thank you Chuck!
Hello Alvin
A long time ago, an old timer taught me the same method you used to get the bearing and retainer off your rear axles. Over the years I rebuilt many 9 inch ford differentials a well as axle bearings and seals. In my later years in invested in a 12 ton shop press and a slide hammer.. At the time they were not expensive. I still have them both. Time savers indeed. I enjoy following your videos. Always a pleasure and excellent learning experience. Thanks Alvin: Walt
Hi Walt, a larger bench press is something I really need to invest in, there have been a few job where it would have been better suited to use a press...changing these bearing is one of those job. 👍
Alvin,
10 minutes 45 seconds to change both wheel bearings has got to be a world record. That cutting trick helped a lot, my friend. 😉
Regards,
John
Hey John,
Cutting is a good way to remove the bearings if you don't have a bench press large enough for the axle, the trick is not to go crazy with the cutting...there's no need to sink the cutoff blade in until it cuts the axle, just a good scoring will do the trick.
But if you have a press, then that is the best way to do this job.
Happy belated fathers day. Slick trick on getting those bearings on. Many of us do not have a press that could handle that ,so well done.
Thank you Doug!
A press would be a better method for sure, but in a pinch...this works fine. 😊
Nice job.
Thank you!
Hello Alvin. Nice job on those bearings. It should ride a little quieter now.
George B
Hi George,
It made a big difference in the sound while driving, well worth the little bit of time to do. 😊
Nice job, here I was thinking the axle gear oil lubricated the bearings, but they are sealed.
I don't know if it would have been a better setup to get the lube from the diff hub or not. When one of these bearings go to the point of destruction, it doesn't contaminate the differential, that's one advantage I can think of.
Happy Fathers Day Brotha!!
Thank you!
Hey Alvin, interesting procedure. When I do rear wheel bearings, I take them out of the diff and hand them over to the automotive machine shop and let them do it. I've actually never replaced any bearings myself. You made it look so easy. I've done hundreds for customers and I believe that most of these old Thunderbirds have worn out bearings. They usually don't last 50 plus years. Even if they are not noisy they could still be worn out. Did you check the gear oil level? Someone once told me that Ford used whale oil for the rear axles back in the day. I wonder if that is true. GM used whale oil up until the early 70's for their transmissions so its probably true. Thanks.
The gear oil that came out of my 64 galaxie was a black varnish that stained everything about a year and a half ago. It didn't have a gear oil smell at all to it. It was a horrible mess to get the axle tubes and housing cleaned out.
Hi Nick, I had not heard that whale oil was used, but it makes sense that it would be something like that...there were gear boxes in use before the current oil industry, and whaling was a massive industry for a reason, not just for lamp oil.
I did check the gear oil level, it was a little low, but since I am planning to change the pinion bearing & seal, I figured I would wait to add oil then.
The new bearings made a huge difference in the ride noise, and I agree, likely most of these old cars have worn out bearings...roller bearings would have been a better setup, and I my be wrong, but I think there are other applications with 9" Ford differential that do use a roller bear, maybe Jeep?
@@J_R_Shop Yep, I'd say if the rear axle hasn't been pulled apart before it's time to take it apart even if it is working fine. When I did the rear axle on my galaxie it was quiet as can be with all that varnished sludge of what used to be oil and the wheel bearings were super stiff and notchy to turn by hand, and the passenger side had the bearing and seal replaced once in the past already. 159,000 miles when I pulled it apart.
I always learn something new from your videos - too late now as I paid a repair garage to press mine off a few years back. I thought you might have put new oilseals in at the same time?
Hi David, you are correct about the seals, I ordered a set, but of course they still haven't arrived. I am planning to pull the center section in the near future, I'll replace the axle seals at the same time.
Maybe you can help me out, as I broke a couple of lug studs and working on replacing, but they won’t tap out on their own even with the heat and DW 40 so they’ll have to be pressed out and wondering to remove the whole lug outer part do you need to remove the axle as well. Thanks for any advice you have.
Are you working on a Ford 9" diff, like the one I show in this video? If so, and you feel you need to have them pressed out...you will need to pull the axle, it's all one piece.