Drive Shaft: Help!! 1950 Champion drive shaft center bearing replacement

[wdills]

Dads car started making an unhappy bearing noise after it came up to speed. I ordered a replacement center support bearing and rubber cushions from SI. Today we started what I thought would be a simple replacement. Removal of the rear drive shaft went fairly smooth. I then removed the mounting bolts and cushions that hold the center support to the frame. The shop manual says to slide the bearing off the end of the front drive shaft. Problem is, it would not come off. Ended up having to remove the front drive shaft from the car and then pressing the front shaft out of the support bearing. Once the bearing was off, we saw several significant scuff marks on the bearing surface of the front drive shaft. Also discovered that the dust shield would turn freely but would not come off of the drive shaft.

So it appears that the bearing surface of the front drive shaft is now a larger diameter than it should be. That is the only way I can explain why the support bearing was stuck and had to be pressed off and why the dust shield will turn but not come off. I assume the center bearing has been getting very hot to cause these problems.

So my question is, does anyone know the correct diameter of the front drive shaft bearing surface? I guess I will have to take the drive shaft to a machine shop to get the surface turned back down to the correct size, just need to know the size.

If I am not understanding the shop manual and this support bearing is supposed to be pressed onto the front drive shaft, someone please enlighten me.

Thanks
Wayne

[doofus]

Wayne, wouldnt the correct shaft size be the same as the bearing ID only slightly smaller? try polishing the shaft with coarse emory strips. does the shaft where the bearing rides look discolored?Kinda guessing here does the dust shield need to come off? worked for private collector and never saw this problem! keep us posted please , Doofus

[TWChamp]

Use a smooth mill file to carefully go around the driveshaft and file down the high spots. I can't believe they would be very high or too many, unless that bearing really did a lot of high speed spinning on the shaft.

[wdills]

I guess I should clarify. It doesn't appear that the inner race of the bearing ever spun on the shaft. The scuff marks run lengthwise on the shaft not around it. I assume the scuffs were created when I pressed the shaft out of the bearing. Still doesn't explain why the end of the shaft is too big.

I was looking around the shop and found some emory cloth belts. I may try them. At least I will be sanding about 1/3 of the shaft at a time. Hopefully I won't get it too out of round.

[doofus]

Clean shaft and press new bearing on, press fit is ok. have to ask, Speed and Champion? maybe oxymoron chuckle chuckle. if not sure of fit warm bearing in sun, cool shaft lube shaft bearing surface and press together,this keeps bearing located on shaft where factory wanted it. Good Luck , Doofus

[TWChamp]

Setting the bearing on a 60 to 100 watt light bulb will get it very hot and should expand it as needed. Hndle it with oven mitts.