Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 17:54:50 -0600
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Rear Axle Bearing Installation
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I did this job today. Just rebuilt my existing boxes.
Two hours crusing pawn shops looking for big socket for the
nut........... no luck.
Two hours crusing local auto repair shops to find someone to torque the
nuts back after I ground the old ones off and installed my new bearings,
seals, brake lines, wheel cylinders and of course that big nut.
The total labor time on this job was about four hours as advised by
several list members.
The bearings were loose but didn't show the tell tale blue form heat.
The old grease was pretty stiff and most of it was under the spacer and
nowhere near the bearings. It looked to be the old type that has cotton
fiber in it, definitely not any chance of it moving near the bearings.
I've wrecked out a few vanagons and I usually find grease about like 90
wt in there so I was surprised to see heavy clumps.
The bearings were getting pretty sloppy by the looks of the seal area on
the stub axles, it was spread out much more than the 1/8" inch or less
that I like to see.
Strangest thing! I actually had a try-arc plier that took the locking
ring right out.
If you're planning on doing the bearing replacement or re packing your
rear axle stubs I'd suggest that you put it off as long as you can
............. boy an I tired.
I'll drive by the finalist repair shop tomorrow morning and pay the nice
fellow $10.00 for two minutes work torquing the two big nuts. (still
cheaper than tool rental to do it myself).
Thanks to all for your advise.
Stan Wilder
On Tue, 8 Jan 2002 21:25:18 -0600 Stan Wilder <wilden1@juno.com> writes:
> I've just about mustered up enough courage to install my rear new
> wheel bearings and seals.
> I'm going to just grind off the old nut (got new replacements).
> The question:
> Is it easier to pull the entire swing arm assembly or just the drive
> axle box to knock out the old bearings and install the new seals?
> I've got a complete spare set of arms with all of the brake parts
> attached and I'm considering just installing the new parts in the
> spare swing arms and doing a swap. This looks to be the simplest
> method although it appears to still be an all day job.
> Your comments are encouraged.
>
> Stan Wilder
> 83 Aircooled Westfalia
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