Date:         Sun, 8 May 2016 18:12:28 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: OEM Grease Colour: Rear Axle Shaft, Bearings
Comments: To: Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CAB2RwfhsrSC6PQf=SSL5+pPhHAGW3fduwuELKV1fjv24KsqN=g@mail.gmail.com>
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The grease getting nasty is a combination of water, old age, and maybe even overheating. If the bearings are not making any unusual noises then this brake overhaul maybe a good time to freshen up the grease. Of course some may say to take it all apart and clean all old grease out and there is some truth to that. However that is a labor intensive job and unless you are also replacing the bearings there is not much added value. Here is the short cut. 

Get yourself a grease needle similar to this
http://www.amazon.com/Plews-05-037-Grease-Injector-Needle/dp/B000FMO6XU/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1462744722&sr=1-3&keywords=grease+needle

You will also need a grease gun and some good grease. This can be a whole different discussion but any high quality grease for wheel bearing applications will do the job. It is not the grease that actually does the work but the oil held in the soap base of the grease. You will also need a pair of the wheel bearing seals. 

Remove the seal, wipe out as much grease you can. Take that needle and work it gently between the bearing rollers and into the space behind them. Pump grease into the cavity until some starts to push out. Move the needle to another spot and keep pumping. Pump until you get mostly the new grease coming out. Wipe up and clean up the mess. 

No here is an important part. You want to wipe out all the grease on the outside of the bearing. When put back into service the grease in the cavity will churns and want to come out. There needs to be room for it. Again wipe out all of the grease you see on the outside of that bearing. If you don’t leave some space when the grease does expand it will force out past the seal and contaminate your new brakes. Smear some grease on the lips of the seal and ten press it in. Put the hub back on. Use some ant seize on the threads and face of the flange.  

Dennis


-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Neil N
Sent: Sunday, May 8, 2016 2:36 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: OEM Grease Colour: Rear Axle Shaft, Bearings

Trust me for this kind of question....

After removing the rear axle flanges,
I see brown grease at splines of one rear axle shaft and blackish colour grease at the other axle shaft.

Upon seeing the brown grease, my first thought was "rust".
Is that the colour of grease VW used at factory?
Or am I looking at water intrusion into the rear axle assembly?

Neil.

--
Neil n

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