While re-doing my rear brakes on my 92 camaro, I noticed that theres about 1/2 inch of play on the driver side brake? And, there was grease all over the rear brake. I believe that the grease is cause by a shot axle seal, but why the 1/2 inch of play? Is that normal, or is it caused by the bad axle seal, or could it be a bad bearing?
Thanks for the help.

 

THat all depends on which direction the "play" is in.

There is normally a certain amount of endn play in the axle; it can slide in and out a bit.

It SHOULD NOT have any play whatsoever in the up/down or left/right directions though. If it does, then yes, the bearing is smoked.

Which it probably is anyway, just from your description. The seals ALMOST NEVER leak unless the bearing is bad, because there's no pressure and no heat on them, unless something is BAD WRONG. As the life of a seal goes, those particular ones have it kind of easy. Until the bearing fails.

Problem is, the inner race of the bearing, is THE AXLE ITSELF. In other words, if the bearing is bad, so is the axle.

You either have to replace the axles at the same time as the bearings; or, use one of those "repair" bearings on it. I've never used one; I don't like to do things that way; but I know some other people who have, and sy it worked OK for them.