Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:41:35 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Reminders for Newbies (and a few Oldies as well)
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Over time we get a crop of new Van owners on the list, and the recent
post about the the Axle nut removal tool prompted me to write.
1) Vanagons are notorious to burn!!! That said, when you first come
into possession of a new van - unless you are absolutely certain about
the maintainence on the vehicle before you bought it, and maybe even if
you are certain, replace all the fuel lines in the engine bay before you
drive the thing out of the driveway!!! I cannot emphasize that enough.
Even the newest of Vanagons - the 1991 models are now 16 years old - and
you want to drive around with fuel in those 16 year old hoses with a
pressure load of 30 psi!!!!!? Not me!! Change the fuel lines -- NOW!
Other less critical things can be taken care of later. It will cost you
around $65 more or less for a parts kit from a list vendor, but it's and
ease do. You will also want to change the little short hose on the fuel
injectors as well. Be sure your parts order comes with the hoses and
clamps to do the fuel injectors. The instructions will be with them.
2) Oil Filler - You know how aggravating it is trying to put oil into
the engine at such a horizontal position of the filler neck! Well,
guess what? The filler neck has a filler extension built right into it.
The filler pipe telescopes. It is a tube within a tube. Remove the cap,
then grasp the tube right at the end, with the thumb inside the tube,
then pull. Should extend right out, making it much easier to put in the
oil.
3) Brakes -
(A) - Front Brakes - when doing the front brakes - be sure and check
carefully the front brake lines. It is very easy for them to get chafed
(B) - Rear Brakes - At the risk of repeating myself, I am repeating
myself - here is a repeat of something I said in an earlier post.
I think every Newby on the list - and maybe some Oldies as well -
should be told ----
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REMOVE THE REAR AXLE NUT TO CHANGE THE REAR BRAKES!!
That said, here is the reason.
On the face of the brake drum there is a 14 mm bolt that holds the drum
to the stub axle flange to prevent the drum from coming loose when
changing a tire. Simply remove that bolt, then the drum will simply
slide right off over the studs. In reality, it may not be quite that
easy, as some rusting will have occurred and it may take a lot of hammer
tapping to get the drum to release it's tight grip on the studs, but it
will come off. If you hire the job done, be sure you tell the mechanic
about that silly little bolt. Those not familiar with the Vanagon miss
it more often than not, and sit there and hammer and bang on the drum,
getting nowhere.
You WILL need to remove the axle nut if you need to replace or grease
the rear wheel bearings. If that is necessary, before re-assembly - you
might want to consider having a Zerk fitting installed near that inner
bearing so as to avoid the necessity of ever having to remove the axle
nut again for greasing purposes.
If you have neared the life of your engine - somewhere in the vacinity
of 150,000 to 200,000 miles, somewhere in between when a brake job is
done, have those rear bearings greased or replaced. Be proactive on your
vehicle maintenance, and it will give you good service with few
failures.leaving you stranded Somewhere out from Nowhere in the middle
of a dark and stormy night.
OK. I think I have said quite enough for one day.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
