What have you done to your square lately??

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

WFarm

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2023
Posts
1,200
Reaction score
7,644
Location
Central Virginia
First Name
Paul
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K5 Blazer
Engine Size
454
YOU gotta great wife @WFarm ;)
Yes sir, I do. She works for the Lynchburg Police Department (makes sure the officers get paid and the K9s get lots of love) and many of our friends are LEO. So when I do stuff like bake engine parts in the kitchen oven, I also shamelessly use things like the below as justification for my actions. “But baby, the Police Foundation car show is like in a week or so. Gotta be ready to support them!”

But yes, she is wonderful.

You must be registered for see images attach
 

Radiohead

That guy on the Columbia
Joined
Mar 17, 2022
Posts
3,056
Reaction score
9,906
Location
Low Earth Orbit where it's safer
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
MCMLXXIX
Truck Model
C-20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
454 crazy cubes, or 7.4 luscious litres
Today's mission - figure out the weird howl in the right rear hub.
Mission status - Success! With bonus issue.

Looks like someone was in here in the not too long past and hung new brakes, including a new wheel cylinder and possibly springs. The adjuster is a weird, aluminumy color and seems stuck. At least it won't turn by hand holding the spin back thingy (I can't remember the proper nomenclature right now, lol) away. So that's great! But....

The wheel bearings are toast. It appears that the preload wasn't done correctly, or at brake job time it was decided to let the next guy (me) deal with it. Did I mention the last owners were methican Americans? Regardless, it is nice to know my diagnosis skills are still going well enough to call it correctly ahead of time. However, the local gear oil in the hub seemed a bit like Vaseline (Did they use wheel bearing grease on reassembly?) and had a faint yet distinct glitter about it.

So in conclusion, I need to take the left side down to see if it's brakes are new or if someone pulled a one wheel deal. And to inspect those wheel bearings as well. Should just do both sides and be done with it. Need to verify that other adjuster too. Most importantly, I will pop the differential cover off and give it the hairy eyeball and a shot of fresh gear oil. Wish I had a 3.73 gearset and an air locker on hand, maybe next time. Then I can do those bearings too!

Question for the braintrust - I noticed some galling where the inner race seats to the axle housing. Is this going to bite my a$$ later with another fried bearing? Also, the retainer nuts look like record grooves too where they are supposed to engage the outers inner race/locking ring surface. Is this normal on a 14bff? Didn't see this addressed on the 14b website (http://www.billavista.com/Tech/Articles/14-Bolt_Bible/index.html).

Thanks folks, knocking another one off the punchlist feels great.
Well hell. I forgot how much fun a 14b hub could be when you get to go in after a nitwit has been in before you. I need to, and can't get, the retaining ring for the outer bearing to cooperate. The ear/tang things are worn off to the point where I can't get enough grip to get it out if it's burrow. One that looks similar to this one.
You must be registered for see images attach

Anyone fight this particular fight and what did you do to achieve victory? Not keen on replacing an otherwise good hub. [Colorful metaphors]
 

Blue Ox

Turning Diesel Fuel Into Fun
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Posts
5,875
Reaction score
14,633
Location
LI-NY
First Name
Derek
Truck Year
MCMLXXXV
Truck Model
K20HD
Engine Size
6.2L
Added a ground stud.

Every time I want to attach jumper cables, a battery charger, or a maintainer I'm always stuck with the problem of finding a good ground point. Usually any hardware on the engine is either too small to get a good attachment, or it's rusty.

Interestingly, I noticed on Mrs. Blue Ox's Equinox GM very thoughtfully had a ground stud on the rad support. I like this because it's away from the battery so arcs don't turn into booms and it's just an easy place to attach a clamp.

So, I ordered a brass, metric bolt and nuts to put this handy feature on the engine of the pickup.

You must be registered for see images attach


I'll let you know if it causes any issues, or better yet, works as advertised.
 

DoubleDingo

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Posts
13,906
Reaction score
23,758
Location
Right where I am
First Name
Bagoomba
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350
Well hell. I forgot how much fun a 14b hub could be when you get to go in after a nitwit has been in before you. I need to, and can't get, the retaining ring for the outer bearing to cooperate. The ear/tang things are worn off to the point where I can't get enough grip to get it out if it's burrow. One that looks similar to this one.
You must be registered for see images attach

Anyone fight this particular fight and what did you do to achieve victory? Not keen on replacing an otherwise good hub. [Colorful metaphors]
I know it's a beefy ring, but can you get a pick or screwdriver under the ends and at least get it started and then work your way further under it? I haven't had to do this on any of my rigs, so I am unfamiliar with the area you're working, so I don't know if a pick or screwdriver will fit in the space. I envision that ring being towards the front of the opening, though.
 

WFarm

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2023
Posts
1,200
Reaction score
7,644
Location
Central Virginia
First Name
Paul
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K5 Blazer
Engine Size
454
Installed the exhaust manifolds this morning. Still need to hook up the exhaust pipes this afternoon and install the new hangers.

Used the Exhaust Manifold Heat Curing tool last night to cook a delicious supper.:Big Laugh:

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach
 

Chevrolado

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Posts
903
Reaction score
1,905
Location
McKinney, TX
First Name
Dave
Truck Year
1977|2006
Truck Model
K10|1500
Engine Size
5.7|5.3
Should've cooked that meal first, then the manifolds after, that way when you pop the hood it smells like breakfast.

Engine is lookin cleaaaan though. Nice work. :D Love it
 

Radiohead

That guy on the Columbia
Joined
Mar 17, 2022
Posts
3,056
Reaction score
9,906
Location
Low Earth Orbit where it's safer
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
MCMLXXIX
Truck Model
C-20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
454 crazy cubes, or 7.4 luscious litres
I know it's a beefy ring, but can you get a pick or screwdriver under the ends and at least get it started and then work your way further under it? I haven't had to do this on any of my rigs, so I am unfamiliar with the area you're working, so I don't know if a pick or screwdriver will fit in the space. I envision that ring being towards the front of the opening, though.
The problem I'm having is getting under an end. I can get squeeze enough to get a small screw driver or nipple pick in the opening, but because the ears are so worn I can't get enough grip on it to pull the ring ends away from the hub. It takes the hub as a backdrop to get enough grip tension on the ring ends so I can't pull away from the hub without it slipping off.

Today, I'm going to see if I can get some needlenose visegrips to hold steady long enough to get the ends out of the groove. Otherwise I am not sure what to do with it next. Definitely buying the new and improved version of the rings I see for what I think are newer vintage axles, with actual ears as tabs instead of teardrop shaped cutouts in the ends. That's why I'm having trouble, someone has wallowed out the ends enough to make removal, difficult.

Will attempt a picture of this particular debacle soon.
 
Last edited:

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
5,145
Reaction score
19,161
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
@Radiohead if you don’t need to preserve the bearing, heat the snap ring in the middle with a torch either to the point of being able to bend the snap ring out or melt it in half, it would take a lot to hurt the hub itself with the heat.
 

Radiohead

That guy on the Columbia
Joined
Mar 17, 2022
Posts
3,056
Reaction score
9,906
Location
Low Earth Orbit where it's safer
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
MCMLXXIX
Truck Model
C-20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
454 crazy cubes, or 7.4 luscious litres
Here's a picture, for those thousand words
You must be registered for see images attach


All I had was a phone flash for lighting, was on the way in from a day out in the world. Will monkey some more and then if no success, gas axe for the win. It's getting new bearings anyway, and I still need to drop the ring gear and inspect those. I'm suspecting a low lubricant condition with loads has ate them up. The gear oil is extra pasty.


More as it becomes available.
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
5,145
Reaction score
19,161
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
Also, if you haven't, tap with a punch and hammer on the retaining ring and bearing race so the race isn't right up against the ring. That would make it more difficult to remove too.

Is the picture of the problem one? I was expecting it to be totally decimated. I'd think a good pair of duck bill or needle nose could get a good purchase on it
 

Radiohead

That guy on the Columbia
Joined
Mar 17, 2022
Posts
3,056
Reaction score
9,906
Location
Low Earth Orbit where it's safer
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
MCMLXXIX
Truck Model
C-20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
454 crazy cubes, or 7.4 luscious litres
Also, if you haven't, tap with a punch and hammer on the retaining ring and bearing race so the race isn't right up against the ring. That would make it more difficult to remove too.

Is the picture of the problem one? I was expecting it to be totally decimated. I'd think a good pair of duck bill or needle nose could get a good purchase on it
Yup, first thing I do is tap the race down to free up the clip. I was using a circlip plier with pointy tips, since it's always worked in the past. When it kept popping off I went to a long nose plier which was better but kept slipping off. Today I will try a vice grip needle nose so my wore out ole painful hands can concentrate on getting the ring out instead of that AND holding the ring together.

Whose that weirdo? Oh, it's me hahaha
You must be registered for see images attach
 

xm20k

Runs on 93 octane, caffeine, and spite
Supporting Member
Joined
May 26, 2025
Posts
1,111
Reaction score
2,855
Location
Girard, Ohio
First Name
David
Truck Year
78
Truck Model
c10
Engine Size
388
Here's a picture, for those thousand words
You must be registered for see images attach


All I had was a phone flash for lighting, was on the way in from a day out in the world. Will monkey some more and then if no success, gas axe for the win. It's getting new bearings anyway, and I still need to drop the ring gear and inspect those. I'm suspecting a low lubricant condition with loads has ate them up. The gear oil is extra pasty.


More as it becomes available.
Long set of needle nose pliers and grab it in the notches and squeeze and pull.

A set like this helps for that kind of stuff.
 
Last edited:

idahovette

Full Access Member
Firefighter
Joined
Aug 7, 2016
Posts
9,549
Reaction score
22,437
Location
Weiser Idaho
First Name
Perry
Truck Year
1975-1979
Truck Model
K20-K10
Engine Size
350
Changed engines in my 75K20. Lost #7 a year ago and finally got the original block(.030 over) back in it and running. Pics new and old
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 
Top