I have an interesting one for you guys and need some advice. This is a 10 bolt rear end with drum breaks (91 RS).

I went to replace my axle bearings and seals today and the axle bearing just "fell" into place. I didn't have any difficulty (well no more than normal anyway) getting the old ones out. Quick work with the slide hammer did the trick. There was no metal shavings or any sign that the old bearing had completely spun in the housing.

I went to install the first new bearing and after a few medium taps with the driver it popped right into place. At first I thought I got really lucky. On further inspection it was too loose in the housing. So loose that I could spin the whole thing in the housing with just my fingers. I popped that one out and tried the other new one and it did the same thing. I tried putting the old one back in just for comparison and it gave me the expected amount of resistance. I have not tried the other side yet.

Do I just have the wrong bearings, or is this normal for new bearings? Maybe a heat cycle causes them to swell and seat into place (I doubt it)? Is it possible that the axle housing has been machined and requires over-sized bearings? I don't want to chew up my housing by trying these ones out.

I bought the bearings from Napa.

PN: PR1563-TAV

Please help! I need to get her back on the road. Although, I don't mind driving my Wife's Camaro or our Corvette while my Camaro is out

 

Those are a smaller o.d. than the ones for a 10-bolt.
They're probably the ones for a 9-bolt.

 

I purchased my Timkens from AutoZone. Double-check the following:

Wheel Bearing Rear, part #5707
Wheel Seal Rear, part #8660S

This about 9-bolts from Everything I Know About 9-Bolt Rear Ends:

"Auto Zone has the cheapest price on Timken Axle Bearings (8.99 each) Part # Set-9. You'll need to replace the seals also, available seperately timken part # 710179 for the passenger side (9.99) and 224255 (3.99) for the driver's side."

JamesC