Monte wrote:

  i just had a very expensive (700 dollars) repair done which was the
result of loose axle nuts on the rear. wrecked axle stubs, wheel hubs,
drums and bearings - started off as a scraping noise - those axle nuts
need to be torqued to 350 ft lbs (i know now)

  Take that seriously Dave, I had an identical scraping problem recently, dust and all.  The list folks pointed me towards the wheel bearing and I just got it in time.  I didn't have time to fix it myself and my torque wrench tops out at 120lbft, so I passed it to an experienced mechanic I've known for a few years.

  Yep.

  Right,

  Guess he was having an off day.  Ten days later I heard the characteristc wuh-wuh-wuh of a worn bearing.  Turned out that he hadn't torqued it properly; fortunately I got to it before it was too late.  350lbft (or 500Nm if you prefer) is a heck of a lot of torque; it's also the minimum.  The Bentley says to tighten to 350 and then carry on to the next slot on the castle nut.  I would read that as "tighten like hell and then a bit more".  My bearing is quiet now, but it will need to be changed again.  I could have bought a suitable torque wrench for not a lot more than the extra it has cost me.

  Get that bearing changed Dave.  I've seen the consequences of stub axle failure (not on a Vanagon - yet) and it's not pretty, unless you're into schadenfreude.  Now there's a name for a Vangon!

  Happy Friday,

  Niall