So do these bearings develop slop that allows the axle to slide in and out?

I would say my axle nut was loose but I know (think) it isn't.

I'm not driving it anyhow these days - still trying to rebuild the interior
- so little chance of crashing due to a wheel falling off.

At 05:54 PM 1/9/02 -0600, you wrote:
>I did this job today. Just rebuilt my existing boxes.
>Two hours crusing pawn shops looking for big socket for the
>nut........... no luck.
>Two hours crusing local auto repair shops to find someone to torque the
>nuts back after I ground the old ones off and installed my new bearings,
>seals, brake lines, wheel cylinders and of course that big nut.
>The total labor time on this job was about four hours as advised by
>several list members.
>The bearings were loose but didn't show the tell tale blue form heat.
>The old grease was pretty stiff and most of it was under the spacer and
>nowhere near the bearings. It looked to be the old type that has cotton
>fiber in it, definitely not any chance of it moving near the bearings.
>I've wrecked out a few vanagons and I usually find grease about like 90
>wt in there so I was surprised to see heavy clumps.
>The bearings were getting pretty sloppy by the looks of the seal area on
>the stub axles, it was spread out much more than the 1/8" inch or less
>that I like to see.
>Strangest thing! I actually had a try-arc plier that took the locking
>ring right out.
>If you're planning on doing the bearing replacement or re packing your
>rear axle stubs I'd suggest that you put it off as long as you can
>............. boy an I tired.
>I'll drive by the finalist repair shop tomorrow morning and pay the nice
>fellow $10.00 for two minutes work torquing the two big nuts. (still
>cheaper than tool rental to do it myself).
>Thanks to all for your  advise.
>
>Stan Wilder
>
>On Tue, 8 Jan 2002 21:25:18 -0600 Stan Wilder <wilden1@juno.com> writes:
> > I've just about mustered up enough courage to install my rear new
> > wheel bearings and seals.
> > I'm going to just grind off the old nut (got new replacements).
> > The question:
> > Is it easier to pull the entire swing arm assembly or just the drive
> > axle box to knock out the old bearings and install the new seals?
> > I've got a complete spare set of arms with all of the brake parts
> > attached and I'm considering just installing the new parts in the
> > spare swing arms and doing a swap. This looks to be the simplest
> > method although it appears to still be an all day job.
> > Your comments are encouraged.
> >
> > Stan Wilder
> > 83 Aircooled Westfalia

Chris M. <Busbodger - "TEAM SLOWPOKE">
Cookeville, Tennessee

ICQ# 5944649
scm9985@tntech.edu

'78 VW Westfalia (67 HP -> that is...67 Hamster Power)
'65 Beetle - Type IV powered
'99 CR-V AWD station wagon
'81 CB900 Custom moto-chickle
2.5 Corvair engines for my Trans-vair Conversion