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Date:         Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:59:53 -0600
Reply-To:     Fillmore West <fillmorewst@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Fillmore West <fillmorewst@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Why my rear axle nuts got loose
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTilwvCn4in3fk8R1Azq8VB7EGIxRPK2sqevyrwTv@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

OOPS! I guess the link would help !

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51453442@N06/

On Thu, Jun 24, 2010 at 10:56 AM, Fillmore West <fillmorewst@gmail.com>wrote:

> Just went through all of this > Not too bad of a job > even for an amateur like myself. > Here's the Tool I use to torque the Axle Nut. > I stand out 2 ft from center. > Now you know my weight !!! ;o) > > PS: List: Thanks for all of your help > with the Auto Trans Final Drive oil change! > In the end I just took the pan off. > (wanted to take a look in there, and to see if there was > a layer of crud on the bottom of the pan. There wasnt ) > > But, the ATF looked like brown gravy! > Doubt it had Ever been changed! > (Looked clean on the dip stick? ) > So folks; change it! :o) > > > On Thu, Jun 24, 2010 at 4:21 AM, Frank Condelli <RAlanen@aol.com> wrote: > >> In a message dated 24/06/2010 12:01:53 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, >> LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes: >> >> MJ. the bearings are not expensive. See here > _Vanagon New >> Parts_ (http://frankcondelli.com/sales.htm) under "Wheel Bearings" >> heading. >> The rear wheel bearings can only be changed by removing the hub bearing >> carrier. The bearings must be pressed out the side where the CV is >> bolted to >> the stub axle, so you had better replace them both and make sure the >> spacer >> is of the correct length listed on my website I just mentioned to you. >> Also, read the following I wrote for the LiMBO newsleter some time ago : >> >> >> "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. >> >> >> >> >>>>>The outer wheel bearings are fairly inexpensive. So I think I am >> going to h= >> ave them replaced. I am going to assume that the inner wheel bearings >> are= >> =A0 still OK.=A0 It would be a much bigger job to replace them.=A0 Am I >> mak= >> ing a mistake=A0 by this assumption?=A0 =20<<<<< >> >> >> >> >> >> 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://www.busfusion.com/) a VW Camper camping event, >> Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13, 2010 >> > >


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