Had the left outer wheel bearing totally fail on the dropnstop spindle over the weekend. Scratches are pretty deep and I don't know if I can reuse this spindle. Dropnstop is no longer so I was wondering if anyone has the same set-up and knows what year Granada the spindles came and what type of tapered reamer is needed for the lower ball joint? I'll start looking for another spindle.

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

Just to follow-up I found an email for Dave at drop n stop and he still has some parts including a left spindle. If anyone is interested, his kits used 75-80 Granada spindles. 

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

Rono, how many miles did you have on the failed bearing? Do you have any idea why it failed? 

I bought Dave's spindles and Wilwood front brakes as well. Last I heard, Dave was having health issues and is no longer in business. Has his health improved?

No idea why the outer bearing failed COMPLETELY! I did speak with Dave Gulley and while he is officially "out of business" he still has some inventory and did sell me a driver's side spindle but is wasn't cheap. He said something to me that I never heard before. That is; I should be repacking the wheel bearing every 2-3 years. I have a "Drop n Stop" on my 56 Customline that I bought from Dick Aslett (sp) who was the original owner of the company before Dave took it over. Those wheel bearings have been doing fine for 15 years and I have never repacked them, although I only have 10,000 miles on the car. I will save the used spindle and maybe buy a set of stock Granada spindles and If I need another spindle replaced I'll just take the new and old one to a machine shop and have them ream the lower ball joint mount hole and fly cut flat the pitman arm mount hole which shouldn't cost that much.

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

55blacktie, I only had about 4,000 miles on the bearings but I plan on replacing the passenger side bearings, races and seals also

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

My 2015 Toyota Rav4 had the front wheel bearings replaced twice under warranty. When I had 2.72 gears and an Auburn limited-slip installed in my 55 Tbird, the shop owner told me that unless my bearings were bad, it was better to reuse them, as the quality of new bearings was questionable. 

I don't know if any bearings are being made in America. Quality control? However, based on Ted's recommendation, I bought cam bearings that were made in Brazil, but they haven't been installed yet. 

I'd agree with that 100%. There are high quality wheel bearings made in a number of different countries, the problem is it's a crapshoot on what you're actually going to get.

In the .mil there was an "every 6 months" schedule for inspecting and repacking tapered wheel bearings, at least on aircraft. Probably the trucks were scheduled if any "fording" across streams had been done above the axles.

It's definitely something that gets overlooked generally.

- 1957 LUBRICATION MANUAL - WSM -


Every 10,000 Miles -

____________________________

Every "10,000 miles" sure - (if you haven't forded any streams) The problem with collector cars, it might take decades to put 10k miles on them. That's what Dave Gulley is referring to. Those lube orders are daily driver schedules.

Do front wheel bearings really "need" inspection and repacking every 2 to 3 years? Well... ya pays yer money and takes yer chances!

Since it’s usually the outer and depending on the width of your front rims I have started using a needle grease gun attachment and pumping in to the outer bearing between the washer and hub when I change oil. I  just remove the dust cover to do it. I spin the wheel. I drive about 1000 miles a year in good weather. 

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.