Regarding CV bolts, this would be a good time to upgrade to the 12-point "triple square" bolts. 

Stephen

Mobile

> On Apr 16, 2017, at 11:17 AM, Steve Williams <steve@WILLIAMSITCONSULTING.COM> wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Luckily (or unlucky)?  the problem started with the axle nut not staying
> tight so I don't have the problem of trying to get the axle nut off!   lol.
> 
> Thanks for the suggestion about the CV bots.  I would not have thought
> of that until I had wrecked one of them!
> 
> Did you do it with the bearing housing on the vehicle?
> 
> Thanks,
> Steve W.
> 
>> On 16/04/2017 7:52 AM, Don Hanson wrote:
>> tbe job is difficult but not complicated.  Have​ some extra cv bolts
>> on hand, and I had an extre axle nut.. it's now aboard as a spare.
>> the forces are BIG!  We had my van raised on jackstands under the
>> back jackpoints when we tried to  deal with the axle nut.  With a
>> socket and​ a 6' jack handle as a cheater bar we were bouncing the
>> front wheels off the ground with two people on the cheater bar on the
>> right side axle nut, and it still wouldn't budge.
>>   I've got the other side rumbling now😐
>> 
>> On Apr 15, 2017 9:06 PM, "Steve Williams"
>> <steve@williamsitconsulting.com
>> <mailto:steve@williamsitconsulting.com>> wrote:
>> 
>>    Hi,
>> 
>>    I have determined that I need to repack at a minimum, more than likely
>>    put new bearings & spacer in the rear passenger side of my 91 Westy.
>> 
>>    I watched a step by step on The Samba (
>>    https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=670910&highlight=bearing+spacer
>>    <https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=670910&highlight=bearing+spacer>
>>    )
>>    In this "step by step", the person had the bearing housing removed
>>    from
>>    the vehicle.  Looking at my vehicle, it looks like that would require
>>    removing the backing plate which would require disconnecting the brake
>>    lines, etc.
>> 
>>    I also watched a video (
>>    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pDzWH0GebQ&ab_channel=ThomasEXOVCDS
>>    <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pDzWH0GebQ&ab_channel=ThomasEXOVCDS>
>>    ).
>>    In the video, he did the bearing job with the bearing housing "in
>>    place", working from the back.  I don't have a hoist, so I'd be
>>    doing it
>>    on a crawler laying on my back.
>> 
>>    Nothing I saw in either scared me too much.  But the devil is in the
>>    rusted fastners!  lol.
>> 
>>    I could pay for a shop to do this, but this is something I fell pretty
>>    comfortable with.  I've been doing my own wheel bearings, brakes,
>>    basic
>>    maintenance on all my vehicles all my life.
>> 
>>    Am I opening a can of worms trying to do this on my own?
>> 
>>    It looks like I'd have to buy some long drifts, and not sure how
>>    I'd pop
>>    the grease seal out if I do it "in place".  It looks like a long
>>    reach,
>>    though if I'm replacing the seal, I could just punch it out from the
>>    outside of the vehicle.
>> 
>>    What is the "list wisdom" of a DIY rear wheel bearing grease?  Any bad
>>    gotcha's?
>> 
>>    I'd likely dive in the CV joints at the same time give that I'd
>>    have the
>>    shaft out anyway.
>> 
>>    Thanks,
>>    Steve Williams
>>