Front Inner Wheel Bearings

[Don Coatney]

I got my drums back and installed them on the car. It seemed like my drums were warped after they were cut, I thought this was strange. I continued to perform the adjustment found on this PDF http://www40.addr.com/~merc583/mopar/p15pdf/brake.pdf . After I adjusted them the pedal was nice and ferm and the drum contacted uniformly around the pads . Once I get my seals I will go for a test drive. Next week I will do the rears.

How do you know the shoes are making good contact? Do this, make several hash marks with a sharpie across the brake shoes. Then do a test drive making several stops. Return home, pull the drums, and inspect the hash marks. This will tell you how good your adjustment is.

[aero3113]

I dont know, but I guess you can say I eyeballed it by pulling the drum slightly and checking the gap between the pads and drum.

[Young Ed]

No his 50 plymouth should have whats basically a 1/2 cylinder at top and bottom that each pushes 1 shoe.

[aero3113]

No his 50 plymouth should have whats basically a 1/2 cylinder at top and bottom that each pushes 1 shoe.

Ed is correct, 2 cylinders one on top and one on the bottom (total of 4 for the front). The rear has only one cylinder per side.

[Don Coatney]

Is the gap consistant? I am assuming you have 1 wheel cylinder at the top that pushes both tops outward right?

..

Now I understand why you did not understand major/minor adjustments. It appears you have not yet had the pleasure to work on Lockheed braking systems. They are a whole different animal than modern braking systems.

[Plymouthy Adams]

these aren't shown in the popular off the shelf car magazines..so it is easy to understand the not knowing...

[aero3113]

Hey Don,

The seals that you have posted, does the rubber lip face in or out when installed?

[aero3113]

When you say towards the wheel do you mean the backing plate? Or the opposite way?

[Don Coatney]

When you say towards the wheel do you mean the backing plate? Or the opposite way?

I flunked my dyslexia test. Disregard my last incorrect advice. The lip of the seal goes towards the backing plate.

[aero3113]

It seems like it would be tough for the seal to get on the spindle that way?

[Don Coatney]

It seems like it would be tough for the seal to get on the spindle that way?

It would be almost impossible to drive the seal into the hub if installed the other way.

[aero3113]

This is what they look like for my car,which way should it go? I had it installed but had second thoughts and pulled it out.

[Young Ed]

First picture towards the backing plate.

[aero3113]

First picture towards the backing plate.

That's what I originally thought but it seems like the seal doesn't want to slide onto the spindle that way, it slips right on the other way.

[RobertKB]

Ed is correct. The other way may go on easier but it will not seal as well. Just tap the seal until it is level with the drum. You do not want to push it in too far.

[aero3113]

I decided to replace all of the bearings, they are cheap enough. Should have them in a couple of days.

[Don Coatney]

I decided to replace all of the bearings, they are cheap enough. Should have them in a couple of days.

Did you order both the cups and cones? Have you ever replaced bearings such as these? Do you know how to drive the cones in and out?

[aero3113]

Did you order both the cups and cones? Have you ever replaced bearings such as these? Do you know how to drive the cones in and out?

Yes, I am replacing everything. I have the correct tools at work to do the job.

[aero3113]

I have all of the races installed,I'm just waiting for the bearings to arrive. One of my outer bearings had some marks on it, almost looks like some water was sitting in there at one point. Its tough to see but you can see the marks in the pic.