Date:         Sun, 11 May 2003 06:02:50 EDT
Reply-To:     RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Washers on wheel bearing housing?
Comments: cc: j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

In a message dated 5/10/2003 11:37:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

> Frank, since all bearings eventualy wear, and preventive maintenance -
> cleaning and greasing on a regular basis - extend the bearing life, what
> do you recommend for the rear wheel bearings. So far as I know nothing
> has EVER been done to the rear bearings on my 88 GL. I am coming to the
> point of rear brake change and thought it might be a good time to
> address this issue.
> 
       John, if the rear wheel bearings are loose after the nut has been 
torqued to proper specs then they need changing.  A very small amount of 
movement will always be present as this is normal for the type of bearing and 
the way they are installed.  If the bearings seem to be fine you can repack 
the bearings with grease by removing the outer grease seal and replacing it 
with a new one (advisable) or you can go to the trouble of inserting a grease 
fitting in the bearing carrier.  Choose a location that is midway between the 
two bearings and will be accessible with your grease gun. Drill a pilot hole 
and tap threads for a grease fitting.  Screw in the fitting and viola you can 
now grease your rear wheel bearing any time you wish.  Be careful though as 
packing in too much grease with this method is possible and will pop the 
grease seal behind the brake shoes and then grease on the brake shoes is not 
fun !

Cheers  

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm">BusFusion</A> a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15, 2003
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Member: <A HREF="http://www.vanagon.com/">Vanagon List</A>, <A HREF="http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/">LiMBO</A>, <A HREF="http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/">IWCCC</A> & <A HREF="http://www.ccvwc.ca/">CCVWC</A>  
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers</A>  
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli & Associates</A> or http://frankcondelli.com