There is no reason the rear wheel bearing can't be done with the housing
left on the van. After removing the drive axle there is plenty of room. You
want some good tools including a "Dead Blow" hammer, some good flat punches,
and some pipe or sleeve material so you use the nut to pull the shaft into
the new bearings. A large drift punch and hammer will get the bearings out
of the housing. You will also need a large internal snap ring plier to deal
with that ring on the inner bearing. Not counting the CV joints should take
about an hour to change the bearings and seals each side.

If you do get the urge to remove the housing consider new bolts and use
Loctite. Torque to spec. It is not a good day when those bolts loosen.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jim Felder
Sent: Monday, February 3, 2014 6:34 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Rear wheel bearings

I know it's in BTDT, I'm looking at the Bentley, and have Bell's excellent
writeup to go by. But rear wheel bearings are still the last charted Vanagon
territory for me. But, I'm about to have to do it.

So, the deal is, you mightily chock the wheels, cheat the nut off, and then
you can pull the hub off? Then the brakes and backing plates come off, and
then what?

Is Bell showing that you don't have to pull the stub axle out until it's on
the bench. As usual, I could figure this out eventually, but I like to know
in advance.

Thanks,

Jim