Brake Backing Plate

[Conn47D24]

Photos attached for this question folks.

 

The recess in the center of the backing plate ( where spindle sits center ) surrounds the inside center " cone" of the drum ( where the inside bearing is).  Deep breath.

 

Is there anything that is installed here around the cone grooves , or in the recess?

 

 

I remember cleaning out lots of grease from the backing plate.

 

There is a seal in the drum over the inside bearing.

 

Anything else here I'm missing??

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Clay

[Merle Coggins]

Yes, there should be a seal there. Pack your bearing cone's with grease, put the inner bearing cone into the cup, and the seal with then go into the drum hub. The seal is needed to keep the grease in the bearing as well as keeping dirt out of the bearings.

 

Merle

[dpollo]

Just to clarify,

 

   the recess in the backing plate should be clean and open.  There may be a felt gasket between it and the spindle so any water or oil will drain out through the back rather than onto the brake.

 

 Do not overpack the bearings.  It is not necessary to fill the space between the races. 

[Don Coatney]

Just to clarify,

 

 Do not overpack the bearings.  It is not necessary to fill the space between the races. 

That is interesting. What is the logic behind that? All my life I have fully packed the bearings both using a bearing packer and the palm of my hand.

 

[Dodgeb4ya]

I have always 1/2 filled the grease cap and 1/2 the hub cavity with grease besides fully packing the bearings.

My every day driver now has 275,000 miles on the OE front wheel bearings.

[Conn47D24]

Good stuff guys.  Thank you all.

 

All this time cleaning and gathering new parts I want to get it together correctly.

 

Clay

[dpollo]

 Packing the bearing races is important and is best done with the tool Don showed.  

 

 However it is not necessary to fill the space in the hub between the races.   I was told that if what was in there was liquified

then the puddle would not need to be above the point where it would run out.  Of course it does not become liquid but does tend to flow towards the races.  There is no need to fill the dust cap.   In over half a million miles I have never had to change a front bearing except one which was Brinelled* from riding in a box car.   I have seen many which were over lubed but no harm done there either.

 

*  rollers making lines across the cup faces due to repetitious pounding