Re: 55 400 brake shoe interferance update

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2014/5/20 12:58:47

As they say, a picture is worth 100 words - incorrect assembly. It's not the shims that are preventing the bearing race from contacting the backing plate (the hole in the shim center is larger than the bearing race), it's that the bearing race is not properly seated against the backing plate. As Ross indicated, the bearing race must be up snugly against the backing plate, both sides. Only then you can measure the axle shaft end play and adjust with shims between the backing plate and the shaft housing as needed, always being sure if you add shims that you re-seat the bearing race back against the backing plate. In the case of your picture, setting the bearing race against the backing plate (and corresponding adjustment of total end play) will result in the brake drum being further outboard than it was before and should eliminate your shoe/drum interference issue. Pretty basic stuff - I don't know about the 55 shop manual but all the other manuals going well back to prewar describe this process quite well - once you grasp the concept of the end play adjustment it's really simple.

When installing an outer rear wheel bearing race, I recommend you DO NOT install them so they are flush with (or even deeper than the) end of the housing - leave them with a bit protruding and use the force of the installation of the backing plate to push them whatever further distance is required as determined by whatever shims are present - thus you maintain contact with the race and the backing plate and then check/adjust the total end play. Thus there is no need to "whack" the far side axle end to seat the bearing race on the opposite side unless you add additional shims.