Thanks again to everyone's suggestions to the axle noise issue of my Vanagon. I understand that it is a complete axle overhaul job now. I don't think I am equipped to do it myself. I will give a visit to my mechanic that I trust soon. The bearings and seals seem to be within $100 or so. I am sure it will be a couple of hours of labor. It's not bad at all considering it's not a light job that I can do without a lot of sweating. I might take this opportunity to have a complete brake job done as well. 

Thanks again for all the great tips. 

MJ

--- On Thu, 6/24/10, Fillmore West <fillmorewst@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

From: Fillmore West <fillmorewst@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Why my rear axle nuts got loose
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Thursday, June 24, 2010, 9:59 AM

OOPS!���I guess the link would help !

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51453442@N06/

On Thu, Jun 24, 2010 at 10:56 AM, Fillmore West <fillmorewst@gmail.com>wrote:

> Just went through all of this
> Not too bad of a job
> even for an amateur like myself.
> Here's the Tool I use to torque the Axle Nut.
> I stand out 2 ft from center.
> Now you know my weight !!!� ;o)
>
> PS: List: Thanks for all of your help
> with the Auto Trans Final Drive oil change!
> In the end I just took the pan off.
> (wanted to take a look in there, and to see if there was
> a layer of crud on the bottom of the pan. There wasnt )
>
> But,� the ATF looked like brown gravy!
> Doubt it had Ever been changed!
> (Looked clean on the dip stick? )
> So folks; change it! :o)
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 24, 2010 at 4:21 AM, Frank Condelli <RAlanen@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> In a message dated 24/06/2010 12:01:53 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
>> LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
>>
>>� � � � MJ. the bearings are not� expensive.� See here > _Vanagon New
>> Parts_ (http://frankcondelli.com/sales.htm)� under "Wheel� Bearings"
>> heading.
>> The rear wheel bearings can only be changed by removing� the hub bearing
>> carrier.� The bearings must be pressed out the side where� the CV is
>> bolted to
>> the stub axle, so you had better replace them both and make� sure the
>> spacer
>> is of the correct length listed on my website I just mentioned� to you.
>> Also, read the following I wrote for the LiMBO newsleter some time� ago :
>>
>>
>> "Folks, as a long time Vanagon shop mechanic, I need to comment on the
>> article in the last issue of The Transporter I received yesterday, about:
>>� "R&R
>> The Rear Wheel Bearing Assembly....on page 7.� There is� incorrect
>> information given in that article which could lead to problems and
>>� possibly an
>> accident.� First and foremost the torque spec on the rear axle� nut is 360
>> ft.
>> lbs. not 253 ft. lbs. as stated in the article.� See page� 42.4 in the
>> Vanagon Bentley workshop manual.� Improper torque on this nut� can lead to
>> problems.� Secondly, replacing worn bearings with used bearings� is not
>> mechanically sound advice.� Especially since the rear wheel bearings� and
>> seals are
>> inexpensive items.� The only "special" tool needed to change� the bearings
>> in
>> that hub is a pair of snap ring pliers. Removing� the bearings from the
>> hub
>> can be easily done with a drift and� hammer.� They are not pressed in
>> requiring any special press or bearing� tool.� Torqueing of the axle nut
>> can be
>> done with the proper torque wrench� or bring the vehicle to a truck repair
>> shop, or use the proper socket� with breaker bar with an pipe extension.
>> Calculate your weight� and then stand on the end of the extension bar the
>> proper
>> distance from the� centre of the axle to produce 360 ft' lbs. of torque.
>> Vehicle on its� wheels, on the ground, rear hand brake fully engaged and
>> wheel
>> being torqued� blocked. Now, more to the problem, replacing the bearings
>> without checking� the spacer, hub, splines and nut for wear can also lead
>> to
>> more problems.���The rear bearings are in a fixed length environment.� The
>> distance is� governed by the width of the bearing races, the spacer and
>> the
>> hub.� If any� of these are worn then the distance is incorrect and
>> tightening
>> the nut will not� make it better.� The nut will come to the end of its
>> threads on the spline� and can certainly be torqued to spec and still not
>> apply
>> the proper pre-load on� the new bearings due to spacer, hub and or nut
>> faces
>> being worn.���Trust me I have seen all these scenarios in my shop.� The
>> spacer and� hub must be measured against the length of a new one.� The
>> Bentley
>> manual does not state these dimensions.� I have measured new spacers and
>> they are 42.8 mm.� I have documented that measurement on my _sales
>> webpage_
>> (http://www.frankcondelli.com/sales.htm)� where the� listing for that
>> spacer
>> resides.� The hub width, I do not know as I have� not had the opportunity
>> to
>> have a new hub pass before me for measurement.���However, if the two end
>> faces of the hub were showing signs of wear I would be� suspicious.� Also,
>> the
>> face of the nut is important to be in good� condition.� Any reason to
>> suspect
>> it would be reason enough to replace it� with a new one.� One last point
>> is
>> to check the splines in the hub and on� the axle for wear.� If the
>> bearings
>> were run loose for any considerable� time, then the hub may certainly have
>> worn the splines and then the axle and hub� should be replaced.� To avoid
>> all of the problems you may see with this� issue it is highly advisable to
>> check the rear wheel bearings at least once a� year and repack them with
>> grease.� Whenever I find more than 1/4" movement� when trying to rock the
>> rear
>> wheel with the van elevated off the ground and hand� brake off, I first
>> loosen
>> and re-torque the axle nut, then if the 1/4" movement� is still there it's
>> time to look into renewing the rear wheel bearings and check� the spacer,
>> hub
>> and nut.� I hope this helps someone before they follow� the misinformation
>> and cause more problems than need� be.
>>
>>
>>
>> >>>>>The outer wheel bearings are fairly� inexpensive. So I think I am
>> going to h=
>> ave them replaced. I am going to� assume that the inner wheel bearings
>> are=
>> =A0 still OK.=A0 It would be a� much bigger job to replace them.=A0 Am I
>> mak=
>> ing a mistake=A0 by this� assumption?=A0 =20<<<<<
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Frank� Condelli
>> Almonte, Ontario, Canada
>> '87 Westy & Lionel Trains (_Collection for sale_
>> (http://frankcondelli.com/trainsal.htm) )
>> _Frank Condelli &� Associates_ (http://frankcondelli.com/busindex.html)
>>� -
>> Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
>> _Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust� Systems_
>> (http://frankcondelli.com/exhaust.htm)
>> _BusFusion_ (http://www.busfusion.com/)� a VW Camper� camping event,
>> Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13,� 2010
>>
>
>