Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2014 09:22:18 -0600
Reply-To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Rear wheel bearings
In-Reply-To: <BAY179-DS19A8472EC3BAEBCC03677A0950@phx.gbl>
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This sounds like the way I would go if I were not going to replace the trailing arm bushings at the same time. Back last year when. I was replacing all the bushings and springs I pulled off the right side arm but the left side would not come off. I hammered witha brass drift on the outside bolt but it would not move. I got things hot enough to get the rubber smoking and nothing. I finally put the car back together as I had to use it. This time around I will be prepared to drill it out. If anyone has a replacement bolt for the one I am about to demolish, please let me know.
Getting at the bearing ought to be trivial with the trailing arm off.
I suppose I should consider removing the axle nut with the trailing arm on the car. I have a vise big enough for the job but I doubt the table it is bolted to will hold up.
Jim
> On Feb 4, 2014, at 11:12 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> There is no reason the rear wheel bearing can't be done with the housing
> left on the van. After removing the drive axle there is plenty of room. You
> want some good tools including a "Dead Blow" hammer, some good flat punches,
> and some pipe or sleeve material so you use the nut to pull the shaft into
> the new bearings. A large drift punch and hammer will get the bearings out
> of the housing. You will also need a large internal snap ring plier to deal
> with that ring on the inner bearing. Not counting the CV joints should take
> about an hour to change the bearings and seals each side.
>
> If you do get the urge to remove the housing consider new bolts and use
> Loctite. Torque to spec. It is not a good day when those bolts loosen.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Jim Felder
> Sent: Monday, February 3, 2014 6:34 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Rear wheel bearings
>
> I know it's in BTDT, I'm looking at the Bentley, and have Bell's excellent
> writeup to go by. But rear wheel bearings are still the last charted Vanagon
> territory for me. But, I'm about to have to do it.
>
> So, the deal is, you mightily chock the wheels, cheat the nut off, and then
> you can pull the hub off? Then the brakes and backing plates come off, and
> then what?
>
> Is Bell showing that you don't have to pull the stub axle out until it's on
> the bench. As usual, I could figure this out eventually, but I like to know
> in advance.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jim
>
