Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:50:51 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Why my rear axle nuts got loose
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re
The outer wheel bearings are fairly inexpensive. So I think I am going to
have them replaced. I am going to assume that the inner wheel bearings are
still OK. It would be a much bigger job to replace them. Am I making a
mistake by this assumption?
Are you thinking of replacing the outer bearings 'in place' ?
might be possible with the exact right bearing extractor, but it's not
usually done that way.
The normal way ..
well the nice way, is to take off the whole housing ( four 22mm hex head
bolts) ...
then do a nice thorough job of replacing both bearings and seals, and
greasing everything very nicely with a really good synthetic wheel bearing
grease. .
I remember the outer bearings as being the expensive ones...
maybe even $ 35 each, german-made.
There has been some failures soon after replacing these bearings, so go for
the highest quality you can find, is my suggestion.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "M. Jade" <tinho2010@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 3:26 PM
Subject: Re: Why my rear axle nuts got loose
Thanks for everyone's suggestions for the axle issue I am having. I finally
have a chance to take the axle apart to check it out. It turns out that at
least the outer wheel bearing is worn. With the brake drum and the wheel hub
off the axle I can yank the axle and feel the play of the outer bearing. I
cleaned the axle and the wheel hub. I don't think there is any obvious wear
on the spline. The hub fits fairly tight with no play still.
The outer wheel bearings are fairly inexpensive. So I think I am going to
have them replaced. I am going to assume that the inner wheel bearings are
still OK. It would be a much bigger job to replace them. Am I making a
mistake by this assumption?
Thanks again for everyone's great tip.
MJ
--- On Fri, 6/11/10, M. Jade <tinho2010@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: M. Jade <tinho2010@yahoo.com>
Subject: Why my rear axle nuts got loose
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Friday, June 11, 2010, 10:19 PM
My rear wheels have been making rumbling noise. According to my past
experience I know it is the axle nuts that are probably loose. So I finally
checked them today. Sure enough they are loose. I tightened them until I
could not turn further. I do not have a torque wrench so I am sure I did not
apply enough torque.
The questions is I did this once less than a year ago. I turned as much as I
could until I could not turn further the nuts. I installed the cotter pins
properly I believe. I am surprised to find that they are so loose today. I
turned them about 30 degree each then put in new cotter pins again. Is there
anything that may be wearing out in the axle? With the cotter pins in there
the nuts can not possibly turn back out. Last time I tightened them as much
as I could until I could not turn any further. But today I found I could
turn another 30
degree further. Does this mean something is wearing out inside? Is there
any risk if I drive it as is for now until maybe they get loose again?
Thanks in advance for any expert tips here.
