Roadburner
Full Member
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2008
- Messages
- 168
I'd just like to thank Bronco Driver Mag and everyone who was involved in the planning of the Bronco Super Celebration. It was a great event and if you missed it make plans to attend next year. My son Dan and I drove our EB's 550 miles to attend and enjoyed every minute of it. We saw some old friends and made many new ones.
We met some folks from West Virgina that made the trip alone in an EB. Two brothers Chad and Kevin along with Kevin's wife. We checked out each others Bronco's, talked about them and where we were from. Kevin asked if they could make the trip home along with us as we were traveling the same route. They didn't have a spare tire or jack and had a 5 hour trip.
On the trip home Dan was leading and I brought up the rear. We had cb's so we stayed in contact. About an hour into the trip I heard a squeal and didn't really know what it was. A few miles later I heard it again followed by loud grinding. Traveling on I81 at 70mph it's something you don't need to be hearing. I radioed Dan and said I've got a problem, get off the next exit which was a mile up the road. We pulled into a small store/gas station, got out and found a fried rear axle bearing.
Being broke down 500 miles from home really gives you a sick feeling. I got the jack out and we tore into it. Took off the tire and rear disc brakes, all covered in gear oil. Pulled the axle and found part of the press on retainer ring welded itself to the axle tube. I drove a screwdriver between the bearing and retainer and it came loose, probably because it was still hot. I've always had to cut them off before. The bearing came off easily also. I sent Dan and Chad out to find a parts store and hopefully find parts.
Meanwhile Kevin, a guy I just met the day before was laying on the ground using a putty knife and a screwdriver as chisels to remove the gaulded on retainer from my axle tube. Did I mention it was raining all this time. I bought a bag of ice and slid it down over the axle shaft to chill it. Dan found an auto zone and they had a new bearing and seal. We put the new retainer on his manifold to get hot. Took the ice off the axle shaft, slid the bearing on and then the hot retainer was pounded on.
We put everything back together and were on the road again. We traveled together for another 4 hours, had lunch, and parted ways. These guys from W VA are what the Bronco Brotherhood is all about. They didn't have to stay and help me and get soaking wet but they did. I know they won't read this because they don't have a computer, but I wanted everyone on this site to know what they did for me.
We met some folks from West Virgina that made the trip alone in an EB. Two brothers Chad and Kevin along with Kevin's wife. We checked out each others Bronco's, talked about them and where we were from. Kevin asked if they could make the trip home along with us as we were traveling the same route. They didn't have a spare tire or jack and had a 5 hour trip.
On the trip home Dan was leading and I brought up the rear. We had cb's so we stayed in contact. About an hour into the trip I heard a squeal and didn't really know what it was. A few miles later I heard it again followed by loud grinding. Traveling on I81 at 70mph it's something you don't need to be hearing. I radioed Dan and said I've got a problem, get off the next exit which was a mile up the road. We pulled into a small store/gas station, got out and found a fried rear axle bearing.
Being broke down 500 miles from home really gives you a sick feeling. I got the jack out and we tore into it. Took off the tire and rear disc brakes, all covered in gear oil. Pulled the axle and found part of the press on retainer ring welded itself to the axle tube. I drove a screwdriver between the bearing and retainer and it came loose, probably because it was still hot. I've always had to cut them off before. The bearing came off easily also. I sent Dan and Chad out to find a parts store and hopefully find parts.
Meanwhile Kevin, a guy I just met the day before was laying on the ground using a putty knife and a screwdriver as chisels to remove the gaulded on retainer from my axle tube. Did I mention it was raining all this time. I bought a bag of ice and slid it down over the axle shaft to chill it. Dan found an auto zone and they had a new bearing and seal. We put the new retainer on his manifold to get hot. Took the ice off the axle shaft, slid the bearing on and then the hot retainer was pounded on.
We put everything back together and were on the road again. We traveled together for another 4 hours, had lunch, and parted ways. These guys from W VA are what the Bronco Brotherhood is all about. They didn't have to stay and help me and get soaking wet but they did. I know they won't read this because they don't have a computer, but I wanted everyone on this site to know what they did for me.
