Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2012 11:52:57 -0400
Reply-To: Bill M <billmonk@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bill M <billmonk@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: PEX front bearings WARNING
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I recently ordered a couple front bearing kits and the brand I
received were PEXs. They are labeled made in Germany. I
have previously had a poor experience with PEX bearings
failing at low milage in a friends Westy that we installed them
in. I didn't know when I was ordering my own kits that I would
get PEX as there was a miscommunication. The vendor has
sent me a return label but that's not my gripe here. My point
is that the PEX front bearing kits come with the wrong nut.
It is of proper grade but does not have the collar that you
peen to lock it down in place. After posting on thesamba asking if other had quality issues with PEX bearings I got
an email from a Vanagon driver who almost lost their
drivers side wheel because they didn't know better and trusted the parts they got from a popular vendor. They did
suffer some body and rim damage because this nut loosened up.
I will say that the vendor took my parts back with no issue and when I asked about the nut was told that they know
it's the wrong nut. That we should just reuse our old one.
Nowhere on their website do they state that and I ordered my parts by phone. I had actually requested a different brand
and was told I was getting SKF even though PEX is what they sent. I feel if your buying a "kit" that I should not have to
reuse my old nut that VW suggests you replace everytime.
Since the vendor had no issue taking my parts back I was
content until the email I received about someone almost
crashing their van. I also have thought more about how
there is no mention anywhere about the danger using the kit
supplied nut and felt I need to make sure that others know.
So if you have replaced your front bearings recently and used PEX branded parts. Please check to make sure you
have the correct nut on there you can peen to lock in place.
If not please call the vendor you got them from and get the
proper replacement.
PLEASE do not turn this into a vendor bash session. I am trying to talk the person that emailed me into contacting the
owner of the business so they can see the seriousness of
the wrong part they are selling. I don't want to see anyone
get hurt and the vendor ending up with a liability issue on
their hands. If you have any questions if you have the correct
part please email me and I'll do my best to help you out.
Bill M
|
Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives
@ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c)
1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the
express written permission of the list administrators.
Posting messages to this mailing list grants
a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce
the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic.
All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess
proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively
towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing
list and vanagon mailing list web site.