Rear wheel bearing overheated??

[luigi164]

Hello,

I have a problem I can't figure out.
Replaced the rear brakeshoes of my 71 newport. Installed and adjusted them according the FSM but I think I adjusted them a bit to tight ? Took a test-ride I smelled something burning when I stopped at a traffic light. Put the car asside and both rear wheels were as hot as hell. Couldn't hold my hands on it ! Also had vapour lock, cause had to pump a few times before the car would stop. Scary moments !! but managed to get home..
Next day took the wheels off and adjusted the brakes again, with enough room for the selfadjusters to do their work...
Took another test-ride, drove a few times in reverse and braking to adjust the brakes. After a few miles: wheels hot as hell and again vapour lock..F@#$ !! Got home, immidiatly jacked the car up and the tought the wheels would turn heavily but no !! wheels turned smootly round not hearing any sound that the shoes were against the drums... Beats me.

Few days later, I have to work sometimes too, again jacked up the car. Wheels turning smootly but now I hear, I think, the wheelbearings.

Could it be possible that the wheelbearings are damaged now because of overheating?

For the brakes: what can be the cause of overheating? Note: yes, I also adjusted the parkingbrake cable when replacing the brake shoes..

Greetings from Holland,

Luigi

 

[blackmamba]

Good Morning! Well lets take a look! First it sounds like you followed all the correct steps in assembling your Brake Shoes. Question, did you put the Big Shoe in the rear of the Brake Plate? Sometimes this can get mixed up. Don't set your Self- Adjuster snug first thing, just install wheel and back up a few times like you did. Other than something dragging inside brake drum i'm betting your Wheel Bearings are bad. check your rear Differential Fluid level also.

 

[luigi164]

Yes, big shoe at the rear. No bearing sounds after installing new shoes. Also after re-adjusting brakes, no bearing sounds. Also while testdriving, no sounds at all. So I think bearings ( were ?? ) allright. My question is could I've messed up the bearings while testdriving and overheating? I can immagine that the bearinggrease got to hot?

Luigi

 

[polara71]

In my opinion " then they were on their way out" if they are bad at all.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

You can pull the axels and repack the bearings with grease. Another member had same problem about a week ago turns out the shoes were not trued, had a high spot. Search brakes dragging and the thread will pop up.

 

[polara71]

I had to turn the drums on number two... didn't look as though they were ever done

 

[luigi164]

You can pull the axels and repack the bearings with grease. Another member had same problem about a week ago turns out the shoes were not trued, had a high spot. Search brakes dragging and the thread will pop up.

Yes I have read that post...
I will pull out axle and check the bearings..