Date:         Sun, 8 May 2016 15:30:15 -0700
Reply-To:     Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: OEM Grease Colour: Rear Axle Shaft, Bearings
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAB2RwfhV2i9azgJ=TVfZ6A9HM0F2RMNiao+jy+W-rm7RSFE9AA@mail.gmail.com>
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.... I do have new bearings on hand, so would keep the new seals for that job,
but to my recollection, there is no noise at bearings.
However. There may be too much play at bearings with rust coloured grease.

I'm sure I can get the 4 bolts off from trailing arm without issue.

Too bad the front wheel bearing seal isn't the same part. I have extra of those.


On 5/8/16, Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
> Awesome info.
> I wondered if I could just freshen up the grease.
> No spare oil seal on hand though.
>
> Would there be any real benefit to using the grease needle to push some
> grease
> into bearing while seal is still in place?
>
> Neil.
>
> On 5/8/16, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> 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
>>
>> Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>
>>
>> 1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>
>>
>> 1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical
>> <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>
>>
>> Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>
>>
>
>
> --
> Neil n
>
> Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>
>
> 1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>
>
> 1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>
>
> Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>
>


-- 
Neil n

Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>

1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>

1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>

Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>