Date:         Fri, 27 May 2016 16:42:14 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: {front} wheel bearings on an '88 Westy
Comments: To: Roy Nicholl <RNicholl@nbnet.nb.ca>
In-Reply-To:  <CA+az7_7cM1nsd=5jGNMB6nfwDU6stsVeGGkqXS13AxGs-7ZONQ@mail.gmail.com>
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If the bearings were correct, and loosened over time, I would suspect the
spindle nuts were not tightened and the peened properly to lock them in
place! I think those peen type nuts are mickey mouse in the first place.
I'm from the old aviation school, and the should have s cotter pin through
them, but this is what VW chose. It is my understanding that the Porsche
spindle nuts fit the Vanagon, are different, and better, providing a better
means of locking.

Though people do reuse them, the Bentley says emphaticlly not to reuse the
Vanagon spindle nut. It calls for new ones every time!

John
On May 27, 2016 13:25, "Roy Nicholl" <RNicholl@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:

All,

Since I am still relatively new to the T25/vanagon world (3 years vs 30
with air-cooled).  Is anything different about the front wheel bearings on
a T25 (vs the old buses and vans) which would lead to them loosening over a
distance of, say, 7000 kms (4350 miles}?

I had the hyena in for its annual inspection and got dinged for 1-hrs
labour (min charge) to tighten the front wheel bearings.  I had the
bearings replaced by a reputable shop in Calgary before my son and I had
our cross country adventure in 2014.

The BRM replica wheels the previous owner had put on the van do not have
the correct offset - they’re about half of spec causing the wheels to run
outboard more than I like.  Would this cause the bearings to loosen?

In all the years with my ’66 Westy and ’74 Thing, the wheel bearings never
loosened off between re-packing.