Date:         Mon, 1 Jun 2015 10:14:22 -0700
Reply-To:     Phil Zimmerman <philzimm1@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Phil Zimmerman <philzimm1@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Rear axle torque specs?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

Date:   Mon, 1 Jun 2015 07:04:01 -0400
From:   Dennis Jowell <dennisjowell@GMAIL.COM>

Forgot to add that that the rear passenger side wheel bearings and seal have been just replaced by a new shop I'm trying to use. Wheel axle nut torqued to 360 ft lbs. I then drove the Westy back to my farm 60 miles away. Remove hub caps and felt axle nuts on both side of the Westy. The passenger side was exceptionally hot. I couldn't hold on to it. The drive side was only warm. Hence my be question of torque specs.
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Dennis,

As previous posts suggest checking rear brake & CV as a source of the heat the rear hub is recording since the rear-bearing Re/Re.
If the Axle-shaft and Axle-nut are hotter than the rear Brake-Drum or outer CV joint… The next thing to ask the Shop who did the work:
Was the "spacer-sleeve" between the inner/outer bearings measured for specifications and/or replaced?
If the sleeve is worn and shorter than 41.8mm, Bentley page 42.4. It must be replaced! 
This spacer sets the preload on the bearings when the axle nut is torqued to 360 ft-lb.

Rear brake Drums can heat up very hot with heavy use. The rear Axle-shaft/nut not so much
This should be sorted out before departing on a long road trip IMHO.

Talk with your new shop. See what they suggest. 
This will fully test their knowledge of Vanagons.
If they deflect you off with: "all new bearings need to wear in some"… Stand firm!
That axle nut boiling off H2O after running a short distance is WAY TOO HOT.

good hunting

Phil z
Off is rock off the West coast