TheSamba.com :: View topic - Rear bearing housing/Lower Shock mount cracked?

Thu Jan 20, 2005 9:33 pm

When removing my transaxle i realised that the rear shock mount/bearing housing on the axle tube is cracked pretty good, right through the upper bolt hole where it mounts on the swingplate. is this piece pressed on to the axle tube? should i replace the axle tube?

Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:46 pm

I don't know about older cars, but it is pressed onto my 65's axle tube. Splitcase trannies may be different, but I'd imagine it is pressed on.

Fri Jan 21, 2005 6:37 am

They're pressed on, then held with a locking pin. Getting the pin out can be a whole lot of fun.

Fri Jan 21, 2005 7:26 am

i use an air hammer to drive pin out as they are tough. tubes are same ,it is end casting that is not. what year is car or transaxle?

Sat Jan 22, 2005 7:45 pm

my car is a 56 with a later model tunnel case swingaxle, the axle tubes have three mounting bolts for the spring plates. this piece is very readily available to replace it. maybe i could weld the crack up?

Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:19 am

Can you even weld cast metal? Personally, I'd just replace it.

Sun Jan 23, 2005 8:09 am

The heat generated by PROPERLY welding cast iron would most likely overheat the bearings inside.
Just soak the pin with Kroil or PB Blaster and drive it out. Soak the interface between the tube and the bearing carrier housing and drive it off. Drive another housing onto the tube and re-install everything.
OR- replace the entire tube assembly.

Sun Jan 23, 2005 8:11 am

stupid_fresh wrote: this piece is very readily available to replace it. maybe i could weld the crack up?

The part your looking for IS readily available, so just replace it. It'll be less of a headache & alot easier/quicker than welding up the cracked one.

Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:31 pm

where can the bearing housing or axle tubes be bought from?

Mon Jan 24, 2005 8:08 am

stupid_fresh wrote: where can the bearing housing or axle tubes be bought from?

Hi stupid_fresh,
Any VW repair shop or tranny rebuilder should have the axle tube. We would not try taking the casting off the axle tube because it is a press on fit. Even if you could get one off and press on another you risk leakage at that joint. Better to remove engine and tranny to do the work properly.
As for welding, that part is cast steel not cast iron (only the engine cylinders are cast iron), and could be welded, but then you would need to have the hole redrilled back through and all of this would have to be done with the axle off the bug. So it is easier to R/R that part.
Eric&Barb

Mon Jan 24, 2005 5:50 pm

the tranny is already out of the bug and the axles will be coming off soon, once i get some heavy duty snap ring pliers. so i was wondering if it would be cheaper to have someone weld up the crack. ill look into prices on a new axle tube, thanks. also, how do i know what year axle tube to ask for? it has 3 holes for mounting to the spring plate. possibly original oval axles on a later tunnel case transaxle?

Wed Jan 26, 2005 7:52 pm

Hi stupid_fresh,
We doubt that you will find a "new" axle tube, but will be able to find a good used one for very little $$$. There should be a part number cast in the outer casting of the axle tube. As for your old axle tube we would be worried that if cracked that tranny part or even the frame of the VW might be bent from that much force. Check the VW workshop manual for frame measurements to check for damage.
Eric&Barb

Thu Jan 27, 2005 2:10 am

ouch, a bent frame possibly? *headache*

Thu Jan 27, 2005 2:14 am

http://thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=142738 found this... looks like what i might possibly need. do the split case axles/axle tubes fit on later model tunnel case transaxles?