Hi,
you might find it interesting that ...
the outer front wheel bearings are weak on early vanagons ..or better said,
they made them better after ..I think maybe,  84.
 I am certain that 82 diesel vanagons have the 'were-improved-later' weaker
front outer wheel brgs.
And recently I swapped some from an 84 to an 85 ..
pretty sure they are better in 85 and later.

so do you have the parts you need ?
if you need a spindle I think you need to pay attention to it being the same
year, ( or the upgrade version that will have the improved outer bearing , I
think ) and power steering or not power steering - need to match what you
have.  PS was available starting in 84.

in 85 and later 2WD vanagons ..
the front wheel brgs last so well it's just amazing..
The only time they are usually even touched is when installing a new front
brake discs.
I never find a loose, dry, or rough one, but those 84's  ( pretty sure ) and
earlier ones..
the outer fronts brgs a a bit weak.
 that's VW for you ..
they underbuild and then upgrade as they go along.

scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "David White" <sirgrumpsalot@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 9:55 PM
Subject: what happened to my thrust washer?

> 1984 gl. driving home 200 miles last night. Front wheel bearings
> started chirping. Then the grumbling started as if I was on gravel.
> Slowed to 30 mph for the last 40 miles. Took the front wheels apart
> today and I can't find the thrust washer on the driver's side. The oil
> seal is trash too. Lucky. The roads were iced over so 30 mph allowed
> me to drive past a few spin outs.  Spindle looks ok so I can't figure
> out if the washer key failed or if I need to replace the spindle as
> the groove may have led to the failure?? I had a wheel bearing go in a
> bay years ago and it was sudden and catastrophic.  When was the last
> time you checked your wheel bearings? This is why the insurance
> companies hesitate to insure us. Rural Idaho would have put me upside
> down in a wheat field without hurting anyone else at midnight. Glad I
> wasn't where I would ruin someone's day.