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Axle Bearing Wear and Imbalanced Drums

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RAC68

RAC68

Darth Vader
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While going through my Healey in preparation for spring drives, I pulled the rear drums to determine if I had any reminisce of a slight hub leak discovered last fall and corrected (I thought) with the installation of new “O” ring seals and paper gaskets. When pulled, a very slight damp area appeared around the lug studs so I am considering the replacement of axel seals but I also had another thought.

When discussing the issues of scuttle shake, it was commented that running with imbalanced rear drums could prematurely ware the axel bearing. Since replacing the seal is planned but determining ware in the bearing, unless very obvious, is beyond my experience or tools, what is the likelihood of having a deteriorated bearing given the following:

  1. A new axel bearing set was installed in 1989.
  2. Approximately 40K miles was driven since bearing installation.
  3. Both drums were quite out of balance.

I look forward to your opinions,

Ray (64BJ8P1)
 
I don't think a bad wheel bearing would cause the leak, but if the bearings are bad I think you would hear them (rumble) or be able to feel play in the wheel when the car is off the ground.
 
Thanks Keith,

I didn’t expect the bearings to have caused the leak but having to address the leak gave me the convenient opportunity to address the possibility of warn in the bearing. During our “Scuttle Shake” discussion, it was brought that imbalanced drums will cause bearings to ware badly and induce additional play in the axels. I was just wondering if others have found this to be true and to what extent it should be considered. If no one has experienced this condition, then with no obvious indications, I will leave them alone.

Thanks again,

Ray (64BJ8P1)
 
From my experience with other cars, when a bearing goes or starts to go you do get a rumble and the worse it gets the louder the rumble. If the car is off the ground you should be able to grab the road wheel and push and pull and lift it with a bar to establish if there is any movement in the bearing. There should be none if all is OK



:cheers:

Bob
 
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