My take on the topic is at:

http://volksweb.relitech.com/frntbrg.htm

Look down towards the bottom for how much play I allow for.

TomC
tcarrington@relitech.com
http://volksweb.relitech.com
85 Vanagon Crew Cab
82 Westy diesel=>gas conversion
65 Notchback

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Todd Guttman [SMTP:tguttman@COLUMBUS.RR.COM]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 1999 9:36 PM
> To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:      Front Wheel bearings - just how much is a 'trace' of play?
>
> While hunting for an intermittent and increasingly annoying front end
> squeak, I took the opportunity last weekend to check the front wheel
> bearings of my 85 2WD Westy.  Armed with my trusty sidekick - the Haynes
> VW Transporter Manual -  I faithfully followed the procedure for the front
> wheel bearings  adjustment.  The wheel spins well with no grindings or
> rumblings and I noted no little pieces of metallic-doo that would indicate
> increasing bearing entropy.
>
> Grasping the wheel at 12:00 and 6:00 and rocking it produced no notable
> movement.  Rocking the wheel at 3:00 and 9:00, however, resulted in a
> wee-bit of play.  My hub nut appeared to be correctly tightened - I could
> move the thrust washer with finger pressure.  Haynes notes that the hub
> should turn with a "trace" of play.
>
> Wanting to double check the English interpretation of the 'deutsche
> method' (or exhibiting what Freudian psychiatrists would lovingly refer to
> as anal behavior) I decided to check the archives for an explanation of
> just what was/is a trace of play.  The posts I found were split - some
> opined that no play was present with the hub nut correctly tightened;
> others claimed that a modicum of movement was acceptable.
>
> Would anyone care to share their experiences/expertise in front wheel
> bearings and hub play?   Thanks in advance for all comments/advice.
>
> Todd
>
> Westerville, OH
>
>
>
>