In a message dated 02/08/2004 12:32:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

I have  been reading the vanagon.com archves for some time and heve not
found any  answer's to a question I have.
I would like to remove the rear stub axles  and service the rear
bearings.
I am finding out that a regular service  schedule on the rear axle
bearings will be an unpleasant task.
The stub  axle will have to be removed along with other items.
Not a savory  task.
I had in my mind to drill and install a grease fitting into the  stub
axle so at least once a year I could give the bearings a bit of  high
temperature, no washout, heavy duty grease just to make sure that  they
are properly lubricated.
Does anyone out in the list see any  problems with this modification  the
rear  axles?

I have done this long ago.  You must  drill the hole dead centre in the hub
so that it is in the area of the  bearing spacer.  You must take precautions to
not introduce any drill  filings into the inside.  You must have the grease
fitting aiming to the  rear of the van for access.  You must only pump grease
into this fitting  when the brake drum is off, once a year for brake
inspections, this is because  overfilling the space with grease will pop off the inner
seal and get grease on  the brakes eventually.  The outer seal will not pop off
as it's trapped in  place. With the drum removed you can see when the seal
starts to move and stop  pumping grease, push the seal back into place then
clean up any grease that  may have escaped.
    One more note.  If you have significant  movement in the bearings when
rocking the wheel on the axle it is most likely  the bearings and spacer need
renewing.  The spacer is the important piece,  it determines the distance
between the bearings for the pre-load when the axle  nut is tightened to its
recommended 360 ft. lbs. I have these parts listed on my  _Vanagon Items Forsale_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/sales.htm)   webpage.

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, '90 Carat &  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