How did the bearings fail? What did they look like?

I wonder a bit about the CV Molly grease... The can
I have says it's O.K. for wheel bearings, but it gets
awfully runny when hot. I generally use a EP lithium
based grease for wheel bearings. It doesn't get quite
so runny at high temps.
I don't have any experience or evidence that the Moly
grease is bad for wheel bearings, but I don't think it's
the best thing either.

You mentioned that there wasn't much grease on the inside.
Maybe they just weren't packed well to start with?
Any greasy evidence that grease got away past the seals?

Any chance of dirt contamination (during installation?)
or water in the bearings? (cross any deep muddy streams lately?)

What brand were the bearings?
They failed on BOTH sides?

Yeow... 3K miles isn't very much! Lets us know if you find a cause...

Steve
'86 Westy

At 01:20 PM 4/28/2003, you wrote:
>Volks,
>
>Trying to figure out why my two rear wheel bearings failed after 3000
>miles.
>
>
>Observations:
>
>1. The large nuts that hold both bearings were tight .. no concerns of
>improper torque.
>
>2. Both bearings seem to be greased with CV Molly ...  is this an
>appropriate lube for wheel bearings?
>
>3.. Both bearings were well lubed on the outside surface but did not
>have much lubrication on the inside/ backside.
>
>4. The snap ring behind the outside bearing looked as if it hadn't been
>disturbed during the last bearing install.
>
>Any thoughts?
>
>Note .... front bearings were also replaced 3k miles ago  .... they seem
>fine.
>
>
>
>"people don't take trips, trips take people",
>
>John Steinbeck ... Travels with Charley
>
>Larry Chase
>Email: RoadGuy@RoadHaus.com
>Web:
><file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/RoadHaus/Application%20Data/Micro
>soft/Signatures/www.RoadHaus.com> www.RoadHaus.com
>What: North American Road Trip
>How: RoadHaus - 1990 VW Westfalia Syncro
>Today: Denver, CO