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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 5 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 5 | I am putting all new brakes on my 49 GMC dump truck and need some help on the front wheel bearings. I think this truck is a 3 ton and has a plate with a gasket on it you unbolt to access the front wheel bearing retainer. Should this be filled with oil? It didn't have any in it an the bearings were also not caked in grease like smaller trucks would have. It has been a struggle to find brakes for it. Napa has the wheel cylinders but I'm having to send off the master to get sleeved and the hydrovac to be rebuilt. Thanks for the help.
Last edited by Gdads51; 08/29/2024 3:37 AM. Reason: add full year to make it more searchable
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,392 Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT | | Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,392 | whit, Welcome back!  Your truck being what it is, your question will get the best help and answers in the Big Bolts forum, so it's been moved there for further conversation. I'm sure some fellow Bolters will be a long soon to offer some help and guidance. 
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100Follow this story in the DITY Gallery"My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine"1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | Trying to keep oil in a front hub will be a challenge, unless you have some very fancy aftermarket seals behind the inner bearings. I'd suggest doing a thorough disassembly and inspection, and packing the bearings with "DB" rated wheel bearing grease. Any local parts store will have various brands on the shelf. If your brake shoes aren't damaged, they can be relined with new friction material that's available on Ebay. Where are you in "Mid-Tenn?" I'm about halfway between Fayetteville and Pulaski close to the Alabama state line.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 5,684 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 5,684 | It sounds like you have a source for brake rebuild services but here's another one if you're interested. They'll reline your old shoes. Specializing in antique, vintage, classic, obsolete, unique and hard-to-find brake parts, bonding, riveting, rebuilding, drum and rotor machining, custom made brake hoses Brake Materials & Parts Inc 800 Sherman Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 260-426-3331 http://www.brakematerialsandparts.webs.com/
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2023 Posts: 71 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2023 Posts: 71 | The GM service manual for the 350 says to pack the bearings with grease, and to line the inside of the hub with a layer of grease so they do not rust.
The front hubs on my 9600/350 just had a set of felt seals on them, which add credibility to them only expecting grease in there. I machined my hubs to take a set of nitrile seals so they would be a little more dust proof.
You are going to have trouble finding drums or pads for this old a truck - cyilinders were all i was able to redily find for my truck. The best I can suggest is to look into getting the pads relined
Last edited by Puffie40; 08/29/2024 2:11 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | Relining brake shoes isn't "rocket surgery"- - - - -especially if you have a rivet setting machine like the one sitting out in my shop!
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Nov 1995 Posts: 5,470 Bond Villain | | Bond Villain Joined: Nov 1995 Posts: 5,470 | especially if you have a rivet setting machine like the one sitting out in my shop!
Jerry  Used it yet??
~ John "We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are" 1948 International Farmall Super A1949 Chevrolet 3804In the Legacy Gallery | In the Gallery Forum1973 IH 1310 Dump2001 International/AmTran RE3000 "Skoolie"2014 Ford E-350 4x4 (Quigley) | | | | | Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 5 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 5 | I'm in Readyville just outside of Murfreesboro. Thanks for the advice | | | | | Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 5 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 5 | Fingers crossed, I have pulled one front and one rear apart and the shoes and drums are in exceptional condition. Hoping I can leave them alone. Napa had the correct wheel cylinders. I'm just looking for the brake hoses now. They are threaded on the outside on one end to have a nut go on to tighten it where it goes through the frame. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | Used it yet??[/quote] Still need to figure out where to bolt it down, and make a few more rivet punches. I think I might use a piece of steel plate about 2 feet square to mount it, where it will be semi-portable. That can also be used to reline clutches if I can find the right diameter friction discs somewhere. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | I'm in Readyville just outside of Murfreesboro. Thanks for the advice You're close enough for a meet & greet sometime- - - -coffee (or an "adult beverage" or three) are on me! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2023 Posts: 71 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2023 Posts: 71 | I'm just looking for the brake hoses now. They are threaded on the outside on one end to have a nut go on to tighten it where it goes through the frame. The hoses I used on the front of my truck were Raybestos BH36548. They do not come with a nut, but the outside thread is 5/8" fine - I just went to a fastener supplier and got a couple of jam nuts to use instead of trying to find the stamped steel variant.
Last edited by Puffie40; 08/31/2024 6:17 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 5 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 5 | If you are cruising through my area, come on by and I will have a cold one for ya. I have about 20 old gm cars and trucks from 47-54. | | |
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