Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 10:48:01 -0800
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Service Interval, Real Wheel Bearings
In-Reply-To: <410029d70911150808h19d8d6e6w73d639e5482209b5@mail.gmail.com>
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Bill,
Twelve years and 85,000 miles ago, I replaced both complete axles; I'm not sure of what brand they were (before I was a List member). But I've done nothing to them "service-wise" at all. Yesterday I removed both axles; boots were intact, full of grease; next time, I'm going to follow the "swap" method as described on the Van Cafe website, say at 30,000 miles from now, to keep the wear patterns shifting around.
One or more CV joints may be bad. I'm just going to replace them all.
GoWesty has complete axles with joints, boots, grease, clips the works
for only $99, and I talked with Taylor at GoWesty and he says these are
Loebro CV's, the best German, rebuilt, but quality all the way. I'm
going to upgrade from the normal allen-head to the tri-square shape, less likely to strip, and they sell a tool to fit which I also ordered. New axles should arrive tomorrow; won't take long to install, van is still up on jack stands.
By the way....I used the VanCafe advice of using a hammer to really seat the Allen into the head. That's a good tip...I could see how you could easily strip the hole or the tool by not having enough engagement. But I got all 24 bolts out without issue, just some grunting.
I never really got a definitive answer (one response said 168,000 miles for him) regarding the "life" of rear wheel bearings....but I guess when they start squeaking, then it's time. I imagine they will fail slowly enough to give warning sounds.
Rich
85 GL, manual transmission
San Diego
--- On Sun, 11/15/09, W Monk <billmonk@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
From: W Monk <billmonk@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Service Interval, Real Wheel Bearings
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009, 8:08 AM
Rich,
Do you recall when you had the Cv's replaced last time did they replace the
entire axles
as an assembly? Did they pull off just the cv joints and replace them? The
reason I ask
is that I have not had very good luck with the complete axles. The quality
is just not the same as when you replace the joints with Lobro units.
Something to investigate
and consider if you don't do any mechanical work yourself. Honestly
replacing the
cv's is a good job for a first timer. Not only will you save money you will
also learn
how to self rescue yourself in the future if you have a break down. Then on
the flip side
I often feel that those who have no mechanical ability or knowledge drive
with
less worry than those who do. At least thats the way it appears to me.
Bill
On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 8:43 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>wrote:
> Just completed a 4,000 mile San Diego to Brownsville, Texas roadtrip.
> Mostly successful. But as I neared Yuma, AZ, on the freeway, started
> feeling and hearing some rear end vibration and clatter. Pulled over to the
> side, and as I slowed, the vibrations and clatter got worse, much worse.
> One big "scrape" per revolution. I pulled off the freeway to a frontage
> road, and crept along at 35 MPH; noise would come and go to varying
> degrees. When it got worse, I slowed down; sometimes putting in reverse and
> then braking hard seemed to help.
>
> I figured a brake shoe was hanging up or something. Best I could do in
> Yuma was Pep Boys. The sound was horrible. After an hour of waiting, the
> guy put it on the lift, took off the wheel and drum; "looks OK" he said.
> Then, he started tugging the axles...the LEFT one seemed sloppy compared to
> the right. I always thought the passenger CV joints went first. Anyway,
> they called around for CV joints or axles.....no luck. Mechanic then
> thought to take it for a good test ride to hear the problem himself. Heard
> NOTHING! Then I drove it...HARD...accelerating hard in corners left and
> right, and I heard nothing. Amazing. They charged me $0.87 (yes, 87 cents)
> and I was on my way with a noise-free ride (something about free brake
> inspection but you pay the tax).
>
> Well, not for long...about 20 miles later, the noise came back. Not as
> severe. Yes, more intense when I put the gas pedal into it; backing off, so
> did the noise. White-knuckled my way from below sea level in El Centro to
> over 4,000 feet about 20 miles later; yes, on some of the steeper sections I
> could hear the click-click-click. CV joints, of course, right?
>
> Stopped by my mechanic to discuss before finally arriving home. We have
> come up with 3 potential problems: brakes, CV joints, or rear wheel
> bearings. Some history: the vehicle is a 1985, with 180,000 miles. Had a
> crummy rear brake job at 90,000 miles, and replaced both axles at 95,000.
> Like most, have never done any rear bearing maintenance. Sounds like voodoo
> to me...spindles and such. I don't have a clue. I understand CV joints and
> drum brakes a little.
>
> So here's the question: what is the service interval for Rear Wheel
> Bearings? How long should they last (I do almost exclusively long-distance
> freeway driving)? How expensive of a job is it (parts and labor...I looked
> up bearings...those things are pretty pricey, inner and outer and seals)? I
> haven't heard much discussion about rear wheel bearings on the List...are
> they bulletproof?
>
> Should I just go for it? As much as I love roadtrips, and the reason I
> have a Vanagon, that sick feeling in the stomach quickly erases the last
> several days of adventure and good times when mechanical problems erupt. I
> would rather error on the side of overdoing it: all new CV joints, all new
> rear brakes (at 90,000 the mechanic said that would be the last time for
> resurfacing the drums, worn out), and new rear bearings. All of this has
> got to cost $1000 or more, got to.
>
> Any advice? I'm taking it in tomorrow. My suspicion is CV joints...with
> no service on them whatsover, they've lasted 85,000 miles. Since servicing
> them costs almost as much as replacing them (paying a mechanic) and they
> "always" give gentle click-click warnings before failure, that's the route I
> went.
>
> Rich
> 85 Manual, not a Westy, 180,000 miles of gentle roadtrips
> San Diego
>
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