Date:         Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:20:38 -0700
Reply-To:     Evan Mac Donald <vanagon_dad@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Evan Mac Donald <vanagon_dad@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Front spindle possibly needed
In-Reply-To:  <84467B7AA46F44AC9E50B51FB27E3E6D@cortex>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

O.K. Now comes the fun part. A 1985 was the worst year to have, because as a "running" change during the 1985 model year, the front wheel bearing size changed. There is a chassis number, (which I don't remember, and can't find right off) at which bearing size changed. Get your VIN, and check it against that number. The reason to do that is to prevent you from ending up with two different sized bearings being needed. Both are fine, and servicable, but, again, you do not want to mix part requirements on your van. Either match up a single spindle from the correct VIN group, or do both spindles, with the replacements coming from the same vehicle.
 
Maybe now would be a good time to consider an upgrade to 1986-and-up spindles, for the better brakes...?
 

--- On Sun, 9/14/08, Cullen Stewart <cullberly@VERMONTEL.NET> wrote:

From: Cullen Stewart <cullberly@VERMONTEL.NET>
Subject: Re: Front spindle possibly needed
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Sunday, September 14, 2008, 2:13 AM

Sorry,
It is a 1985 westy with power steering.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Evan Mac Donald" <vanagon_dad@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2008 8:57 PM
Subject: Re: Front spindle possibly needed


There are several differences we need to know before anyone can say if the
parts are available - mostly the year, but also manual or power steering. If
you have power steering, but put in a spindle from a non-PS Vanagon, The
geometry will not be correct. The tie-rod attach ppoints are different
distances from the vertical rotation centerline.


--- On Sat, 9/13/08, Cullen Stewart <cullberly@VERMONTEL.NET> wrote:

From: Cullen Stewart <cullberly@VERMONTEL.NET>
Subject: Front spindle possibly needed
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2008, 11:01 PM

     I recently had bearing failure on the drivers side front spindle. The
outer
bearing is crispy and dry. The inner bearing is fine. I assume it had grease
seeping out of the speedometer cable hole and it just ran dry over time. The
passengers side looks clean and fully greased.
     The problem is that the bearing race seems to have welded itself onto
the
spindle. Upon removal it left slag on the spindle that does not want to come
off. Also, the threads on the spindle look a little abused. Does anyone have
a
new spindle that I can purchase near central Vermont? Also, what is the size
die
I need to chase the threads on the spindle?
Thanks