Date:         Sun, 16 Apr 2017 06:52:14 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: List Wisdom - DIY rear bearings...
Comments: To: Steve Williams <steve@williamsitconsulting.com>
In-Reply-To:  <998f0156-f151-198f-2d44-3b7cdbe9e491@williamsitconsulting.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

tbe job is difficult but not complicated.  Have​ some extra cv bolts on
hand, and I had an extre axle nut.. it's now aboard as a spare.  the forces
are BIG!  We had my van raised on jackstands under the back jackpoints when
we tried to  deal with the axle nut.  With a socket and​ a 6' jack handle
as a cheater bar we were bouncing the front wheels off the ground with two
people on the cheater bar on the right side axle nut, and it still wouldn't
budge.
   I've got the other side rumbling now😐

On Apr 15, 2017 9:06 PM, "Steve Williams" <steve@williamsitconsulting.com>
wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have determined that I need to repack at a minimum, more than likely
> put new bearings & spacer in the rear passenger side of my 91 Westy.
>
> I watched a step by step on The Samba (
> https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=670910&hig
> hlight=bearing+spacer
> )
> In this "step by step", the person had the bearing housing removed from
> the vehicle.  Looking at my vehicle, it looks like that would require
> removing the backing plate which would require disconnecting the brake
> lines, etc.
>
> I also watched a video (
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pDzWH0GebQ&ab_channel=ThomasEXOVCDS ).
> In the video, he did the bearing job with the bearing housing "in
> place", working from the back.  I don't have a hoist, so I'd be doing it
> on a crawler laying on my back.
>
> Nothing I saw in either scared me too much.  But the devil is in the
> rusted fastners!  lol.
>
> I could pay for a shop to do this, but this is something I fell pretty
> comfortable with.  I've been doing my own wheel bearings, brakes, basic
> maintenance on all my vehicles all my life.
>
> Am I opening a can of worms trying to do this on my own?
>
> It looks like I'd have to buy some long drifts, and not sure how I'd pop
> the grease seal out if I do it "in place".  It looks like a long reach,
> though if I'm replacing the seal, I could just punch it out from the
> outside of the vehicle.
>
> What is the "list wisdom" of a DIY rear wheel bearing grease?  Any bad
> gotcha's?
>
> I'd likely dive in the CV joints at the same time give that I'd have the
> shaft out anyway.
>
> Thanks,
> Steve Williams
>