Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:45:30 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Rear wheel over half in muddy water. Need to repack bearings
or ???
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to add fresh grease to the outer bearing ..
only need to remove the wheel flange.
the sealing surface for the outer grease seal is on the flange,
so once the flange is off, there's about a one quarter inch gap, and you can
push or pump grease in that way.
there is plenty of room inside the hub, between the bearings for extra
grease to stay there.
I suspect it turns into a flowable liquid when hot anyway.
It's just amazing to me how well greased bearings last.
about bearing wear ..and when they might be due.
on one of my vans, the left rear had a lot of play. Like about 1/8th inch
play at the tire ...like up-down play there. 'Quite a bit' let's say.
Still quite smooth turning though.
when I got it apart ....there was a pretty severe amount of play and wear on
the outer bearing.
The bearing surface of the inner race ......the one that comes out easily
....that surface was very worn looking ..
not quite to the point of rumbly failure yet, but very close.
Like it wouldn't be that smart to start a big trip with a significant load
with that much bearing wear already.
'usually' right side things wear a bit more than left side things, in
suspension/bearings etc. ..
but on this 85 Westy ...the left was more worn. Appears to be original
bearings with 166K miles on them.
The other side is next .
I will say, if there is significant up-down play at a rear stub axle, or
with the tire still on ...and it seems like a lot ....
and miles are high on those bearings, they're due .....at least for serious
out of town trips.
Or carry a spare bearing housing with decent bearings in it at least. -
kinda a heavy part to bring an extra of along though.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 8:42 PM
Subject: Re: Rear wheel over half in muddy water. Need to repack bearings or
???
> The grease fitting for rear wheel bearing housing is really a wonderful
> idea!!
> This way you can over pack the bearings so they can heat up churn the
> grease
> real bad, blow out the seals and then lubricate the rear brake hardware
> along with the shoes. All in 5 to 10 pumps.
> The grease that goes into the rear trailing arm will help to rust prof
> it.
>
> Sorry I am lousy at sarcasm but this is just a bad idea to solve a problem
> that really does not exist.
>
> If you really want to lubricate the rear wheel bearings without
> disassembly,
> get a small needle for your grease gun. Remove the drum, and wheel flange,
> then the one seal.
> Insert the grease needle between the rollers into the housing area. Now
> fill
> until fresh grease comes out of the bearing.
> Now for the important part. Wipe out all the excess grease outside the
> rollers. Yes, all of it. Replace the seal. You want space behind the seal
> for some of the new grease to flow out without pushing out the seal or
> getting forced past it into the brake area.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> John Rodgers
> Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 10:48 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Rear wheel over half in muddy water. Need to repack bearings
> or
> ???
>
> If I remember correctly, there is an upgrade one can do for their rear
> wheel bearings, in that a hole can be drilled, tapped, and a zerk fitting
> put in there so that the bearings can be greased once in a while. If your
> bearings are now questionable, and replacement may be looming, this may be
> something you want to do while the hubs are torn down for new bearings.
> I've
> not done it, but it on my to-do list.
>
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>
>
> On 9/7/2010 12:06 PM, Jay lefstein wrote:
>> My thoughts are the rear wheels have sealed bearings
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Jay Lefstein.
>> Sent from my mobile device.
>>
>> On Sep 6, 2010, at 7:20 PM, Scott Chapman<scott@MISCHKO.COM> wrote:
>>
>>> I went adventuring in my 85 Westy today.
>>>
>>> Lesson learned: NEVER try to cross a sizable puddle without
>>> inspecting it first! We managed to get the right rear in muddy water
>>> over half way up the tire and it took over an hour to get it out again.
>>>
>>> I am wondering if I need to do anything with the brakes or wheel
>>> bearings, or anything else, as a result of this "abuse" :).
>>>
>>> I went to a self-serve car wash and washed wheels out thoroughly on
>>> both sides but haven't gone further yet.
>>>
>>> I'm in Cheyenne, Wyoming and leaving from here to LA on Thursday AM.
>>> The last thing I need is trouble on the trip.
>>>
>>> All advice and wisdom greatly appreciated!
>>>
>>> Scott
>>
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