Hey All,

I just got done replacing my rear bearing on my 63 pv544. I put the brake backing plate on and then measured the in and out (axial) play. It's .052". I know that's way too much. Where do you guys/gals get bearing shims?

Thanks,
Chris

I finally get it. I didn't understand that shimming one side pushes the whole thing to one side. I'd only ever worked on one other differential and with it, the gears in the center were fixed so you had to shim each side independently.

Thanks for putting up with my confusion.

Chris

Hello,

You are welcome and you are to be congratulated for your insight into how this setup works as it is unusual as you discovered.

I should have tried to explain it further, but sometimes my descriptions can cause confusion.

I do want to point out 1 thing, the differential you are working on is exactly the same as other cars and light trucks without a posi except for the addition of the centering pin.

The centering pin has a wide slot in the middle to clear the spider gear shaft so it can float and with the ends of the axles butted against it with the proper amount of shims then sets the axle end float.

On most other rear ends and on most later Volvo rear ends with disc brakes, shimming is not required.
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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

Hello,

You do not need to add shims, you need to remove shims to remove excess axle bearing end play.


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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

Maybe I'm missing something, but there aren't any shims on that side as I found it. When I removed the brake backing plate it was right against the axle tube, without any gasket or shims.

Hello,

All of the shims should be under the left backing plate, so if you changed the right axle bearing, you should not find shims there.

There is NOT supposed to be a gasket between the axle tube and the backing plate.

Both gaskets go on the outside of the backing plate on each side of the re-enforcing plate.

It is unusual to have that big a change in end play when changing an axle bearing.

I am used to having to add or subtract only .010" or less in shims when changing axle bearings.

I am a little concerned that you received and used the wrong bearing or your centering pin might be broken.

The centering pin is in the middle of the differential and the inner ends of both axles are supposed to touch each end of the centering pin.

The centering pin has a slot cut into it for the spider gear pin to pass through and the centering pin can break, usually at the thinnest part.

We have had the broken end of a centering pin stick to the end of an axle that we had removed, we have had to peer inside the axle tube to see a broken half the centering pin sitting inside the axle tube and we have had to remove the rear inspection cover to see that the broken halves of the centering pin still sitting in place.



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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

Eric,

Thanks for your time and lengthy description. I'll try and investigate further and maybe take some pictures to try and illustrate my problem. The bearing I used came with the car that I just bought a few weeks ago.

Eric and all,

Here's a short video I took while working on the rear passenger side today. It too has about .050" of end play.
http://youtu.be/TlflofBco6Q

Any thoughts would be appreciated,
Chris

Hello,

The play that you have is normal, only because you do not have all the pieces installed yet.

And the order in which you install the remaining parts is critical.

The next part(s) that needs to be installed are the thin metal shims, then the backing plate, a gasket, the re-enforcing plate, another gasket and then the outer dust shield assembly.

Bolt everything together and then check the end play.

If there is too much end play, remove shims, if you do not have enough end play then you have to add shims.

FYI, it looks like the drum locating key is not installed correctly.

The tapered end is supposed to go in first with the taper facing the axle.
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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

Hello,

I reviewed your video and I realized I failed to comment on a couple of items.

1st thing is that metal shims you found between the paper gasket and the metal re-enforcing plate should not be there.

The extra shims are NOT doing any harm, but they were never put there by Volvo and in that location they are NOT adjusting the end play.

2nd, I believe the loose metal ring you found is the retaining ring for the felt seal for the dust shield and you check the felt seal condition.

Lastly, since the bearing race is a slip fit, it is very easy for the race to move outwards while you are removing the backing plate.
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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502