Date:         Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:09:17 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Comments:     RFC822 error: <W> MESSAGE-ID field duplicated. Last occurrence
              was retained.
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Rear wheel bearings
Comments: To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <bdf.3a8957c4.35e68005@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Frank,
Bearing housing should never be fully packed with grease. You need room
for expansion from both heat and the bearing churning in the grease.
Grease fittings are not a good idea.

If you must, when packing the bearings your way, the outer seal should be
removed and all the grease outside the bearing should be wiped off and
then put a new seal in. This will allow room for more grease to enter that
space without forcing the seal out or working past the lip and getting all
over the brake shoes.

My solution is to use a thin grease needle placed between the bearing
rollers and then flushing some of the oil grease out. Then wipe off the
excess and use a new seal.

Dennis


-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Frank Condelli
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 6:02 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Rear wheel bearings

In a message dated 26/08/2008 7:37:24 P.M. Central Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

        Dave, you can consider  installing grease fittings in the hubs
while
your there.  See my _Vanagon Westy Suspension,  Steering, Brake Overhaul_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/springs.htm)    Pics near the bottom of that
page.
Just remember one thing -- only grease them when you have the hub  off for
brake inspection.  Too much grease will pop off the inner seal and  get
grease
all over your brake shoes.  Just watch the seal while pumping  grease,
stop
when the seal starts to move, push it back in place and clean up  any
grease that
came out.  I'm sure I wrote about this a few times before  so now it's in
the
archives AGAIN !   The bearings are easily removed  with a drift and are
easy
to install.  Not a problem and a press is not  required.  Make sure the
spacer is the correct length.  From my  _Vanagon Items Forsale_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/sales.htm)   "Wheel Bearings" webpage >
Spacer, rear wheel
bearings, 42.8 mm long, 211 501  281 E  $39.95.  Those come from VW only,
the price is
what they were  last time I ordered them.  I put up the measurement there
so
folks can  check to see if theirs are good or bad.  They MUST be exactly
that
length  or the there WILL be looseness in the bearings after the torque of
360
ft. lbs.  is set on the axle nut.  the spacers do wear out in length under
some  circumstances.



>>>>>Thanks guys . . it DOES sound like the job I was  expecting rather
than
the
one I was hoping for.  I start in a couple  of hours after some shopping!
Wish me  luck.<<<<<<<<<<





Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
- Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/exhaust.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15,  2008