Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:10:37 EST
Reply-To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Rear wheel bearings - adjust or replace?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 22/11/2008 8:17:10 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
Shawn, you cannot adjust the rear wheel bearings. See your Bentley
for details. Also see the article below I wrote a few years ago for the
LiMBO newsletter.
"Folks, as a long time Vanagon shop mechanic, I need to comment on the
article in the last issue of The Transporter I received yesterday, about: "R&R The
Rear Wheel Bearing Assembly....on page 7. There is incorrect information
given in that article which could lead to problems and possibly an accident.
First and foremost the torque spec on the rear axle nut is 360 ft. lbs. not
253 ft. lbs. as stated in the article. See page 42.4 in the Vanagon Bentley
workshop manual. Improper torque on this nut can lead to problems. Secondly,
replacing worn bearings with used bearings is not mechanically sound advice.
Especially since the rear wheel bearings and seals are inexpensive items.
The only "special" tool needed to change the bearings in that hub is a pair of
snap ring pliers. Removing the bearings from the hub can be easily done with
a drift and hammer. They are not pressed in requiring any special press or
bearing tool. Torqueing of the axle nut can be done with the proper torque
wrench or bring the vehicle to a truck repair shop, or use the proper socket
with breaker bar with an pipe extension. Calculate your weight and then
stand on the end of the extension bar the proper distance from the centre of the
axle to produce 360 ft' lbs. of torque. Vehicle on its wheels, on the
ground, rear hand brake fully engaged and wheel being torqued blocked. Now, more to
the problem, replacing the bearings without checking the spacer, hub,
splines and nut for wear can also lead to more problems. The rear bearings are in
a fixed length environment. The distance is governed by the width of the
bearing races, the spacer and the hub. If any of these are worn then the
distance is incorrect and tightening the nut will not make it better. The nut will
come to the end of its threads on the spline and can certainly be torqued to
spec and still not apply the proper pre-load on the new bearings due to
spacer, hub and or nut faces being worn. Trust me I have seen all these
scenarios in my shop. The spacer and hub must be measured against the length of a
new one. The Bentley manual does not state these dimensions. I have measured
new spacers and they are 42.8 mm. I have documented that measurement on my
_sales webpage_ (http://www.frankcondelli.com/sales.htm) where the listing
for that spacer resides. The hub width, I do not know as I have not had the
opportunity to have a new hub pass before me for measurement. However, if the
two end faces of the hub were showing signs of wear I would be suspicious.
Also, the face of the nut is important to be in good condition. Any reason to
suspect it would be reason enough to replace it with a new one. One last
point is to check the splines in the hub and on the axle for wear. If the
bearings were run loose for any considerable time, then the hub may certainly
have worn the splines and then the axle and hub should be replaced. To avoid
all of the problems you may see with this issue it is highly advisable to check
the rear wheel bearings at least once a year and repack them with grease.
Whenever I find more than 1/4" movement when trying to rock the rear wheel
with the van elevated off the ground and hand brake off, I first loosen and
re-torque the axle nut, then if the 1/4" movement is still there it's time to
look into renewing the rear wheel bearings and check the spacer, hub and nut. I
hope this helps someone before they follow the misinformation and cause more
problems than need be. It may also be helpful to publish this on the
website. Phil, if your reading this, your more than welcome to this article.
Also, I think it would be prudent to publish this in the next issue of The
Transporter."
>>>>>>While trying to trace a noise from the left rear wheel, I discovered
some play in the bearings.
The noise sounds more like rubbing shoes on a warped drum, and I detected it
last time I
raised the rear wheel & turned by hand, but this time it was gone. I pulled
the drum, and
found the new shoes (less than 5k kms) are barely worn in, with only a bit
of wear on the
leading edge of the shoes - could the roughness of new shoes cause a
scraping noise?
(drum is smooth, no rust).
About the bearings: given the hassle to loosen that big nut, I assume if
there is any play in
the bearing, this means replacement time, right? I can't find any record of
them being done,
and the van has 410k kms, so it's probably time.<<<<<<
Please note that I will be away from my business travelling in Mexico from
November 24, 2008 until April 30, 2009. Parts orders will be processed
although not as quickly as usual. I will always be available for contact by
E-mail. If you phone your call will be addressed by Greg T. Brown here and he will
either call you back or advise you to contact me directly by E-mail. Details
of this adventure are at _Buses in Bacalar_
(http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/busesinbacalar/) . A Travel Blog is at: _Bacalar Blog_
(http://poolio.net/bacalarblog/)
Cheers,
Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
(http://frankcondelli.com/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://frankcondelli.com/busindex.html) -
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley_ Vanagon Stainless Steel
Exhaust Systems_ (http://frankcondelli.com/exhaust.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15, 2008
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