This sounds like the way I would go if I were not going to replace the trailing arm bushings at the same time. Back last year when. I was replacing all the bushings and springs I pulled off the right side arm but the left side would not come off. I hammered witha brass drift on the outside bolt but it would not move. I got things hot enough to get the rubber smoking and nothing. I finally put the car back together as I had to use it. This time around I will be prepared to drill it out. If anyone has a replacement bolt for the one I am about to demolish, please let me know. 

Getting at the bearing ought to be trivial with the trailing arm off. 

I suppose I should consider removing the axle nut with the trailing arm on the car. I have a vise big enough for the job but I doubt the table it is bolted to will hold up. 

Jim

> On Feb 4, 2014, at 11:12 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 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
>