Since I replaced the rear axle bearings, I have had excessive brake pedal travel and poor braking action.

This was traced to a right rear axle that was moving in and out about 1/8", pushing the caliper piston back into its cylinder, such that too much fluid was required to actuate that brake, throwing the whole brake system out of balance, but not enough to trigger the warning light.

I purchased another new axle bearing and pulled the axle yesterday. The outer race stayed in the axle housing when I pulled the axle. Thinking about what pushes where when this is assembled, I noodled through that the taper on the outer race should face inward, such that the outer race has to come out with the axle bearing when you pull the axle.

The new bearing does not come apart, so it was not real obvious which way the taper faces, but I think I got it correct this time. The axle is not moving in and out at the moment. I will check it after a couple of thousand miles.

Figured I should post this because I have seen several posts through the years where folks were battling brake mysteries on bricks. I like to think that I am not the only brickster stupid enough to make this mistake.

Previously, I drilled the retaining ring and inner bearing race so I could crack them and get them off the axle.

This time the ring and race were harder than any of my drill bits, so I tried something else.

A dremel tool with one of those little brown abrasive disks cut though that hardened metal like butter! I cut 90% of the way through and then hit them with a cold chisel to crack them and off they came!

That is a new symptom-cause for me. I'm curious how the brakes led you to look at the axle end play - did the pedal travel only increase while driving, meaning if you were trying to reproduce the pedal travel complaint in the driveway, without moving the car, would it seem to be okay? Like when pedal travel accompanies front rotor runout, but seems less of a concern than the throbbing stops?

Good work!

You got it. I noticed that brake actuation was normal if I traveled straight from stoplight to stoplight, but if I drove through a curve or two and then applied the brake, there would be an inch of extra brake pedal travel with a distinct mushyness in the actuation. I knew that something bad was happening in the curves, and the front wheel bearings felt OK.

Thanks for Posting your Find. It'll make us all more conscious when/if we have to pull the axle bearings.
--
'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm

Meh, that's not so stupid...I snapped an A cam in half years ago by only tightening down the center bearing. Gloriously stupid. I've definitely learned a lot since then....

That said, we all make stupid mistakes. As long as you learn from them, they usually aren't so bad.

Nate

I like to think that I am not the only brickster stupid enough to make this mistake.

Try not to beat yourself up over stuff like this after all you were smart enough to figure it out and then kind enough to give everyone a heads up on it so they might not make the same mistake.

Randy