In a message dated 20/02/2004 2:47:27 PM Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

When I  was trying to get my brake drums off the other day
on my '87, (haven't got  'em off, but haven't tried everything
either) I noticed that I could wiggle  one of the rear wheels
slightly, so there seems to be some play in the  bearings or
something somewhere.  How bad is this?  I've driven  on it
for many miles this way without any ill effects.   Yet.

Has anyone else seen this?  What did you do?  What  happened?

Rear wheel bearing going most likely.   Almost every van that comes into my
shop has some variance of this  problem.  They are all getting old with high
mileage so the bearings and or  spacers are wearing.  But before getting too
excited, try removing the  large centre nut, cleaning it and the threads well,
allying liberal amount of  anti seize to the threads and mating surfaces,
re-torque the nut to 360 ft. lbs.  and see if the movement has decreased, or gone
all together.  If the  movement is less than 1/4" I would not be too worried but
wheel bearings,  seals and bearing spacers are in your future work load
plans.   Bearings can be had from jobbers such as myself but the spacers must come
from  VW at some $50 a piece.  While your in there it's a good time to install
 grease fittings in the bearing carrier.  Check the archives for discussions
on this topic, you will find more info there.
Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13, 2004
'87 Westy & Lionel  Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or  http://frankcondelli.com