hey congrats on your mechanical progress on your van.

one of my tricks about brake lines is...
don't bolt down what the brake line screws into until after the line nut is
started in what it screws into.
that way things can move and jiggle easily to line up those threads.

for a wheel cylinder, it's do it before the wheel cylinder is bolted to the
backing plate.
for a rear wheel brg job ..
the entire backing plate fully assembled just unbolts ( and comes off that
pin ) and you just set the whole backing plate, with shoes and wheel cyl all
in place,  aside  and  parking brake cable still attached. Going back
together, start the brake line nut before bolting down the backing plate. So
things and wiggle and jiggle to help start the threads.

the outer rear bearing race had better be a tight fit in the housing ..
should not just 'slide in' or out..
I press them in and out.  Very important that it be a tight fit there.

Scott
www.turbovanscom

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alistair Bell" <albell@SHAW.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 7:45 PM
Subject: rear bearing replacement

>I had to vent... I replaced the right rear bearing on the '86 syncro
> today. It was making a noise, whiny, and changed with turning van.
> Wheel had too much play when given a shake. Anyhow, it went pretty
> smoothly and I think the bearings were original. The grease seals were
> stuck in very tight.
>
> The outboard bearing outer race was stuck in housing well. But apart
> from that the replacement went easily. I didn't quite finish up as the
> rain started and I was having difficulty getting the brake line back
> into the brake cyl.
>
> That's my vent, the darned brake connection.... I will end up taking
> brakes apart so I can get the cyl. free so I can move it around to get
> the line screwed in.
>
> alistair
>
> PS I took picture, I'll get them posted on my blog after a few more
> single malts.