The CV Joints should be readily available. They may just need to be
serviced, (boot and grease). The grease does dry up and bad grease will make
them become clunky noisy. Left long enough the cages can break and at some
point the joint can fail and leave you stranded. If the rear wheel bearings
haven't been serviced they can be next to go. The proper way to service them
requires disassembly. There is an easy cheat. Remove the wheel flange and
pry out the seal. Use a grease gun and a fine grease needle. Put the needle
through the rollers on the out bearing. Pump in grease until it flows out.
Keep pumping to push out as much of the old grease as possible. Wipe out all
the excess grease, wipe all the way back to the bearing. This is important
as the grease you just stuffed into the housing will expand. It needs some
space to go or it will push past the seal and get onto the brakes. Replace
the seal and wheel hub. Make sure that hub nut gets properly torqued. Yes it
has to be that tight (360 ft. lbs.) or the hub splines will fail. This may
also be a good time to change the transmission gear oil while your back
there.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Kendra Calhoun
Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 8:45 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: rear axlea

Also if anyone knows where to get an axle for an 82 vanagon in the Nashville
area or a mechanic to reccomend in murfreesboro that would be soo great