Lost a wheel at 60mph [message #60542] |
Sun, 18 October 2009 16:18 |
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On the way to the Eastern States rally while driving along a ~60mph I heard 5 seconds of rumble rumble rumble followed by a bang. The right hand rear wheel along with the drum attached somehow just left the coach. Fortunately, no body damage and because I had the QuadraBag setup I was able to comfortably drive about 200 yards to where I could find a good place to pull over.
See photos at http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=31195
Bill Brown - '77 Buckeye Cruiser
Coshocton OH
carguybill@sbcglobal.net
[Updated on: Sun, 18 October 2009 16:19] Report message to a moderator
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Re: Lost a wheel at 60mph [message #60549 is a reply to message #60543] |
Sun, 18 October 2009 17:01 |
Ron
Messages: 250 Registered: February 2004 Location: Conifer, Colorado
Karma: 0
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Bill..
About the only way that could happen would be to break the spindle... Did the wheel bearing freeze and break it?
Lucky, Lucky.. The GMC Gods were smiling on you!
Ron
now a P.O.
Conifer, CO
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Re: [GMCnet] Lost a wheel at 60mph [message #60551 is a reply to message #60549] |
Sun, 18 October 2009 17:11 |
Tin Gerbil
Messages: 236 Registered: October 2006 Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
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The spindle did not break. The outer bearing failed. The spindle is
intact with the nut. A WAG from the dirty black grease and the amount
of brake dust, it may have been a long time between service? Or new
black grease and too tight on the nut. The smaller bearing is the one
most often to fail first. Was the bogie arm bent before the incident?
Gordon
rhusak wrote:
>
> Bill..
> About the only way that could happen would be to break the spindle... Did the wheel bearing freeze and break it?
> Lucky, Lucky.. The GMC Gods were smiling on you!
> Ron
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Gordon
'74 Canyon Lands "Tin Gerbil"
Vancouver Island, B.C.
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Re: Lost a wheel at 60mph [message #60552 is a reply to message #60542] |
Sun, 18 October 2009 17:18 |
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The coach is at Tom Hampton's in Marysville OH. I'm hoping he will be able to explain the likely sequence of events that led to this. The axle is intact with the nut still on. Bearing race (s?) seem to be surrounding the nut. The brake shoes were mangeled. I replaced the bearings and seals in April of '02 and have not looked at them since. Miles? I don't know, I'd guess maybe 6000 or so since the bearings were replaced. No I don't think I overtightened the axle nut.
After Tom gets a chance to look at it with his experienced eyes I'll let everyone know what I learn.
Bill Brown - '77 Buckeye Cruiser
Coshocton OH
carguybill@sbcglobal.net
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Re: [GMCnet] Lost a wheel at 60mph [message #60554 is a reply to message #60549] |
Sun, 18 October 2009 17:25 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912 Registered: July 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Ron,
Sorry to disagree, take a close look at the photo below and note Bill's
comments under the photo.
If I'm not mistake you can also see the greasy inner wheel bearing inner
bearing race near the brake backing plate.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=31196
To me it looks like the outer bearing seized, spun on the spindle and ground
away the washer; that allowed the wheel to wallow back and forth which
caused the bearings to disintegrate and the wheel to parted company with the
coach!
Bill,
Clever title under the photo!
Good reason to have a Quadra Bag suspension system!
Regards,
Rob Mueller
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
'75 Avion - USA - The Parts Coach TZE 365V100324
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of rhusak
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 9:01 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Lost a wheel at 60mph
Bill..
About the only way that could happen would be to break the spindle... Did
the wheel bearing freeze and break it?
Lucky, Lucky.. The GMC Gods were smiling on you!
Ron
--
76 Eleganza II
Conifer, CO
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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Re: [GMCnet] Lost a wheel at 60mph [message #60563 is a reply to message #60542] |
Sun, 18 October 2009 18:02 |
Ray Erspamer
Messages: 1707 Registered: May 2007 Location: Milwaukee Wisconsin
Karma: -3
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I had the exact same thing happen on a Prowler travel trailer we used to have. A brake spring failed allowing the shoes to drag and everything got so hot the bearings just must have disintegrated......but it looked identical to what you have there.
It looks like you had plenty of grease on the bearings.
I repacked my rear bearings this past spring and they were fine, I really didn't have to touch them. Charlie Toole, my coach's most recent PO kept detailed records since he purchased the coach and he had no record of ever servicing the rears. I suspect you had a brake start dragging and the heat did it, once the outer goes it just tears everything else apart.
Thoughts ??
Ray
Ray & Lisa Erspamer
78 Royale Center Kitchen
The Malosco Cruiser (TZE368V101144)
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53226
Email: 78GMC-Royale@att.net
414-745-3188
Web Site: http://ray-lisa.page.tl/
________________________________
From: Bill Brown <carguybill@sbcglobal.net>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Sunday, October 18, 2009 4:18:42 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] Lost a wheel at 60mph
In the way to the Eastern States rally while driving along a ~60mph I heard 5 seconds of rumble rumble rumble followed by a bang. The right hand rear wheel along with the drum attached somehow just left the coach. Fortunately, no body damage and because I had the QuadraBag setup I was able to comfortably drive about 200 yards to where I could find a good place to pull over.
See photos at http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=31195
--
Bill Brown - '77 Buckeye Cruiser
Coshocton OH
carguybill@sbcglobal.net
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
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Ray Erspamer
78 GMC Royale Center Kitchen
403, 3.70 Final Drive
Holley Sniper Quadrajet EFI System,
Holley Hyperspark Ignition System
414-484-9431
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Re: [GMCnet] Lost a wheel at 60mph [message #60603 is a reply to message #60554] |
Sun, 18 October 2009 22:54 |
Tin Gerbil
Messages: 236 Registered: October 2006 Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Rob it looks like the washer may have been heated and rolled over the nut.
Gordon
Rob Mueller wrote:
> Ron,
>
> Sorry to disagree, take a close look at the photo below and note Bill's
> comments under the photo.
>
> If I'm not mistake you can also see the greasy inner wheel bearing inner
> bearing race near the brake backing plate.
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=31196
>
> To me it looks like the outer bearing seized, spun on the spindle and ground
> away the washer; that allowed the wheel to wallow back and forth which
> caused the bearings to disintegrate and the wheel to parted company with the
> coach!
>
> Bill,
>
> Clever title under the photo!
>
> Good reason to have a Quadra Bag suspension system!
>
> Regards,
> Rob Mueller
> Sydney, Australia
> '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
> '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
> '75 Avion - USA - The Parts Coach TZE 365V100324
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
> [mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of rhusak
> Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 9:01 AM
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Lost a wheel at 60mph
>
>
>
> Bill..
> About the only way that could happen would be to break the spindle... Did
> the wheel bearing freeze and break it?
> Lucky, Lucky.. The GMC Gods were smiling on you!
> Ron
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GMCnet mailing list
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Gordon
'74 Canyon Lands "Tin Gerbil"
Vancouver Island, B.C.
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Re: [GMCnet] Lost a wheel at 60mph [message #60612 is a reply to message #60596] |
Sun, 18 October 2009 23:47 |
Tin Gerbil
Messages: 236 Registered: October 2006 Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Ken;
As I said a WAG. I was guessing because the grease is still on the
inner and none on the outer. I have only found an inner damaged when
the seal has been bad and water got in. If you find one blue bearing
from over tightening, it is always the outer.
None of this is 100% correct. I just gave a double dirt bike trailer
away with the inner destroyed and the outer was still together.
Unusable, but in one piece.
Gordon
Ken Henderson wrote:
> Gordon,
>
> Why do you say the outer bearing failed first? You've seen more of them
> than I have, but I'd have guessed that the inner bearing failed first,
> allowing the wheel to wobble and destroy the outer bearing enough to release
> the hub over the races and nut.
>
> How can we be SURE?
>
> Bill,
>
> SO sorry it happened; glad no one was hurt.
>
> After maybe 30,000+ miles, it's probably time for me to check mine.
>
> Ken H.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> The spindle did not break. The outer bearing failed. The spindle is intact
> with the nut. A WAG from the dirty black grease and the amount of brake
> dust, it may have been a long time between service? Or new black grease and
> too tight on the nut. The smaller bearing is the one most often to fail
> first. Was the bogie arm bent before the incident?
> Gordon
>
> rhusak wrote:
>> Bill..
>> About the only way that could happen would be to break the spindle... Did
> the wheel bearing freeze and break it?
>> Lucky, Lucky.. The GMC Gods were smiling on you!
>> Ron
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Gordon
'74 Canyon Lands "Tin Gerbil"
Vancouver Island, B.C.
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