Thanks for everyone's suggestions for the axle issue I am having. I finally have a chance to take the axle apart to check it out. It turns out that at least the outer wheel bearing is worn. With the brake drum and the wheel hub off the axle I can yank the axle and feel the play of the outer bearing. I cleaned the axle and the wheel hub. I don't think there is any obvious wear on the spline. The hub fits fairly tight with no play still.

The outer wheel bearings are fairly inexpensive. So I think I am going to have them replaced. I am going to assume that the inner wheel bearings are� still OK.� It would be a much bigger job to replace them.� Am I making a mistake� by this assumption?�  

Thanks again for everyone's great tip.

MJ

--- On Fri, 6/11/10, M. Jade <tinho2010@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: M. Jade <tinho2010@yahoo.com>
Subject: Why my rear axle nuts got loose
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Friday, June 11, 2010, 10:19 PM

My rear wheels have been making rumbling noise. According to my past experience I know it is the axle nuts that are probably loose. So I finally checked them today. Sure enough they are loose. I tightened them until I could not turn further. I do not have a torque wrench so I am sure I did not apply enough torque.

The questions is I did this once less than a year ago. I turned as much as I could until I could not turn further the nuts. I installed the cotter pins properly I believe. I am surprised to find that they are so loose today. I turned them about 30 degree each then put in new cotter pins again. Is there anything that may be wearing out in the axle? With the cotter pins in there the nuts can not possibly turn back out. Last time I tightened them as much as I could until I could not turn any further. But today I found I could turn another 30
 degree further. Does this mean something is wearing out inside? Is there any risk if I drive it as is for now until maybe they get loose again?

Thanks in advance for any expert tips here.