Thanks Mark.

I figured the Vanagon would be markedly heavier than a Bay. Enough to
warrant a change in outer bearing design. But....

Here: http://www.vanagon.com/info/years/1980/index.htm#1980_vanagon
P22  camper is:

GVWR: 5072 lb

.pdf of owners manual sez: '79 Bay campmobile GVWR: 4961 lbs  That
minor difference surprises me.

Seems VW knows more about their product design than I do.    ;)

Neil.

On Wed, Apr 20, 2011 at 3:17 PM, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
> Don't get too wrapped up about that rumored "better bearing".
>
> AFAIK, all that happened was as the vans got heavier and got power steering
> VW saw the need to increase the diameter of the front spindle shaft end.
> This meant a different outer bearing with a larger inside diameter. The
> switch to ET30 offset wheels may also have been a factor. If someone has
> some other reasonable explanation I would like to hear it.
>
> Mark
>
>
> neil n wrote:
>>
>> I had early signs of failure on my outer fronts. Likely this was due
>> to mal adjustment by me. Still I was curious about your comments.
>>
>> Googling PN's from the vanagonauts BTDT website:
>> http://www.vanagonauts.com/-Wheel-Bearings154.htm
>>
>> This PN: "Front Outer Bearing Part # 211 405 645 D Fits 83-84 Thru
>> Chassis # 24E015000" �I got:
>>
>>
>> http://www.autocarspare.com/catalog/wheel-bearing-rep.-kit/211405645ds.html
>> �and
>>
>> http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC-211-405-645-DGR
>>
>> Seems some early MY Vanagons used the bearing design from WAY back.

-- 
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines