Ron,
My 78 Royale has Wallace bearings that were installed in 1996 by the
previous owner. The bearings have less than 50 miles (yes 50) since that
time.
I don't know much about these bearings but I will tell you what I think I
know & maybe someone who really does know will correct any errors. (Don't
want to start any more myths) (g).
According to previous discussions several months ago on this list, most of
the people who were familiar with the Wallace hubs felt that they were a
quality product while Mr. Wallace was alive but the quality control suffered
after his death, so it is necessary to determine when your hubs were
purchased. (I don't know when Wallace passed away or when the quality
control problems may have started)
As you are probably aware the Wallace Hubs have an additional bearing (a
total of three) to carry the load and have a grease zerk to lubricate the
bearings without having to disassemble the unit.
According to the literature I have seen, the drive axle nut should be
torqued to 250 - 300 Ft.Lbs & the lug nuts torqued to 150 Ft. Lbs.(I am
reading directly from the literature), the bearings should be regreased
every 25,000 to 30,000 miles with Mystic JT-6 high temperature grease.
The literature also says that if taken care of properly these hubs should
never be disassembled.
After talking to anauthorized GMC repair facility I was cautioned to be very
careful of changing brake pads before damaging the rotors because rotors
cannot be removed without disassembly of the hub. If the hub is ever
disassembled there is no one knowledgeable to reassemble them back to
original specifications.
If you ever want to go back to the original bearing design you would need to
buy some new parts since some of the original parts were modified to
accomodate the third bearing.
The Wallace Hubs cost around $1500 - $1700 plus core charge of $400. This
price did not include installation.
I am hoping that these bearings are as good as the Wallace literature claims
but I will be working on my GMC for quite a while longer before I will have
a chance to find out.
Since I am hoping that this post will generate some discussion I will also
say that my coach has a 500 cid Cadillac engine. (I don't know if this is
good or bad.) I did hear that it has at least one advantage. It has two
bolts per cylinder on the exhaust manifolds so is less prone to exhaust
leaks.
RTR 78 Royale Rear Bath
You wrote
>Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 17:24:55 -0700
>From: "Ron & Gina"
>Subject: Re: GMC: Timken Bearings
>
>Hi All
>Our 73 Pumpkin-rose has Wallace bearings, The previous owner gave me a
>grease pack to grease these bearings she said there was 5000/10,000 more
>miles before it needed greasing? Are these bearing as go as she made them
>sound? Should I grease now or wait the 5/10,000 mile before regreasing the
>special zerk fittings? I heard that Mr. Wallace pasted and the Company is
>now not in business. I'm I in trouble?
>
My 78 Royale has Wallace bearings that were installed in 1996 by the
previous owner. The bearings have less than 50 miles (yes 50) since that
time.
I don't know much about these bearings but I will tell you what I think I
know & maybe someone who really does know will correct any errors. (Don't
want to start any more myths) (g).
According to previous discussions several months ago on this list, most of
the people who were familiar with the Wallace hubs felt that they were a
quality product while Mr. Wallace was alive but the quality control suffered
after his death, so it is necessary to determine when your hubs were
purchased. (I don't know when Wallace passed away or when the quality
control problems may have started)
As you are probably aware the Wallace Hubs have an additional bearing (a
total of three) to carry the load and have a grease zerk to lubricate the
bearings without having to disassemble the unit.
According to the literature I have seen, the drive axle nut should be
torqued to 250 - 300 Ft.Lbs & the lug nuts torqued to 150 Ft. Lbs.(I am
reading directly from the literature), the bearings should be regreased
every 25,000 to 30,000 miles with Mystic JT-6 high temperature grease.
The literature also says that if taken care of properly these hubs should
never be disassembled.
After talking to anauthorized GMC repair facility I was cautioned to be very
careful of changing brake pads before damaging the rotors because rotors
cannot be removed without disassembly of the hub. If the hub is ever
disassembled there is no one knowledgeable to reassemble them back to
original specifications.
If you ever want to go back to the original bearing design you would need to
buy some new parts since some of the original parts were modified to
accomodate the third bearing.
The Wallace Hubs cost around $1500 - $1700 plus core charge of $400. This
price did not include installation.
I am hoping that these bearings are as good as the Wallace literature claims
but I will be working on my GMC for quite a while longer before I will have
a chance to find out.
Since I am hoping that this post will generate some discussion I will also
say that my coach has a 500 cid Cadillac engine. (I don't know if this is
good or bad.) I did hear that it has at least one advantage. It has two
bolts per cylinder on the exhaust manifolds so is less prone to exhaust
leaks.
RTR 78 Royale Rear Bath
You wrote
>Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 17:24:55 -0700
>From: "Ron & Gina"
>Subject: Re: GMC: Timken Bearings
>
>Hi All
>Our 73 Pumpkin-rose has Wallace bearings, The previous owner gave me a
>grease pack to grease these bearings she said there was 5000/10,000 more
>miles before it needed greasing? Are these bearing as go as she made them
>sound? Should I grease now or wait the 5/10,000 mile before regreasing the
>special zerk fittings? I heard that Mr. Wallace pasted and the Company is
>now not in business. I'm I in trouble?
>
