Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice Granny's Luxo-Muscle-Barge

[Scott Liggett]

This is how my New Year's Eve started. On my way to have dinner with friends, the Caprice right front tire suddenly like it was going to come off. I didn't have any real warning. The front end felt out of alignment, a little toed out, but nothing really wonky. Then within one mile of driving, it became seriously scary.



I jacked up the car and discovered the axle bearing had completely fallen apart. Pulled the dust cover off and the castle nut, cotter pin, and outer bearing look fine. So, I figured the inner bearing fell apart. Pissed off, I left the car there and went out to dinner with friends. Locked my damned keys in the car too.

After dinner, I broke into my car, got my keys and waited with DG until AAA showed up to tow the car back to the house. When pulling it into the driveway, I had no brakes either. TERRRIFIC!!!!!

[DanStokes]

Happy New Year, huh!

But it HAS to get better from here.

Dan

[Deaf Bob]

Bad luck comes in threes.. You're golden!
Happy new year's
Or is it Crappy new year's

[langleylad]

could have been a lot worse buddy ! this is just a pain in the ass . Happy New Year

[milner351]

Sounds like your new years was about like mine.... dealing with a sinus infection and cough, near blizzard conditions outside, finally got up and got motivated to plow the driveway while it's still snowing, tractor chain got fouled up in the wheel well locking one wheel - had to back up to the barn jack it up and fix that, then about 45 minutes later the main power fuse blew leaving me stranded in the dark halfway down the neighbors driveway...
Happy new year indeed!

[Scott Liggett]

What I thought was a destroyed inner bearing was really the outer. This is all I found of it besides about 1/3 of the rollers. The washer that goes between the bearing and the spindle nut is now missing the tab that keeps it from moving. The lack of brakes was caused by the rotor moving around so much it pushed the caliper piston back in. The lug nuts were nearly welded on. Good news; the spindle is OK if I can get the inner part of the bearing off of it without destroying the threads. I will probably cut it off.



Checking the bearing race closely, I felt a dip in it and it was cracked. Things must've gotten real hot. The crack made it easier to get out. Already got all new bearings, races and seals for both sides. Will have to get that spindle nut washer somewhere. I have one, but it's too small.

[silver_bullet]

Dorman® AutoGrade™ - Spindle Washer

Part Number: 618-005

less than 2 bucks... should be able to get at O'reillys within 24 hours...

[NewEnglandRaceFan]

I'd check over the clapper also.. something heated the rotor enough for the grease to move away from the bearing to then fail.. As you do great upkeep on your vehicles, I'd assume it's not be from never repacking the bearing, or over tight'n the spindle nut.. if the clapper was dragging it could wash the grease away from the bearing.. was that area still full of grease.. I've never had one fail ,the bearing failing, it was always a reaction from something else.. owner not ever repacking the bearings, or a clapper dragging and heating the crap out of the rotor.. or the age old, bull in a china shop that cranked down the spindle nut.. now those sealed axle hubs. they fail all the time..

[Scott Liggett]

I'd have to say that I haven't repacked the bearings except when I first bought the car in 2001. The pads were new on the car the then. Only driven it 20,000 miles since I bought it. I guess it was my fault for not checking it more often. My old job, the car really didn't get driven a lot. Some errand running on the weekends mostly.

[Casper]

Trying to maintain more than one car is not only a pain in the ass but it can get expensive.

Ask me how I know...

[malc]

Trying to maintain more than one car is not only a pain in the ass but it can get expensive.

Ask me how I know...

I could´nt do it, one money pit is überenough.

[Casper]

I could´nt do it, one money pit is überenough.

I've got Firebird Country going on over here, there's no way in hell I'll get all these cars together before I die...

Problem is I don't what to sell any of them.

[DanStokes]

Then just don't die! Any local vampire can hook you up but you'll have to sleep all day if I understand the deal correctly.

Dan

[Scott Liggett]

I only have about $10,000 total in this car, the last time I added up receipts. That's over a 12 year period and includes the $2000 I paid for it. It really has been a reliable second car. It's also the reason I never bought a POS commuter car. Because I would have the same amount into a POS that would only down in value. My daily commute is about 12 miles a day.

[silver_bullet]

totally understandable...two full size four wheel drive trucks, the bullet, the trailer, 4 S-dimes between me and Sean, and the 32 Chevy... not to mention a circa 1849 house constantly under renovation and the garage/shop addition.. I often catch myself saying "The good Lord put me on this earth to accomplish a number of things.. I am so far behind that I may never die?"