wheel bearings

[halfgut]

Are there wheel bearing kits available for the Thing that include outer, inner, races, seals et al or do I need to puchase all these separately?

If I have to purchase separately would someone mind writing out a shopping list of parts needed for front and rear?

[Captain Spalding]

Not sure about the kit. So here's the list.

Front wheel bearing, inner: 311405625D
Front wheel bearing, outer: 311405645
Front wheel seal: 111405641B
Rear wheel bearing, inner: 113501283
Rear wheel bearing, outer: 113501277A
Rear axle seal: 113501315G


Edit: Inner front wheel bearing part no. changed from 311405625B to 311405625D as a consequence of discussion further down in this thread.

[halfgut]

Thanks Cap'n. Do the bearings come with the races or do you have to purchase those separately? What about o rings?

[uberautowerks]

The bearing come with outer races.
O rings? Oh yeah, at the rear bearing housing, the O-ring comes in this kit....

... you only need the o-ring and the seal, the remainder is for swing axle cars, but it's the easiest way to get the o-ring.
_________________
--- The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair.
- Douglas Adams -
---
'74 Thing (White)
'71 Single cab (White too)
'70 Weekender (White three)
'05 Evolution VIII (White also!!!)
'68 F-250 (White over black)

[halfgut]

Thanks Uber.

[uberautowerks]

Thanks for the thanks.
_________________
--- The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair.
- Douglas Adams -
---
'74 Thing (White)
'71 Single cab (White too)
'70 Weekender (White three)
'05 Evolution VIII (White also!!!)
'68 F-250 (White over black)

[kubelmann]

Remember that the front wheel bearings are the same part as is used on most of the early water cooled front wheel drive VWs as rear bearings. Very common part... Rear bearings are also a common part that is widely available. A guy brought his dune buggy into a local auto shop for front and rear wheel bearings. They quoted labor as one hour each for fronts and two hours each for rears. So a total of 6 hours at $90 per hour. Thats $540 plus parts. Everyone should do their own bearings. They are very simple especially for $540 labor...

[Ian Epperson]

[halfgut]

I agree that replacing the bearings is easy. However, for the novice it can seem daunting. With that in mind I purchased the Bug Me Videos and I can tell you they are worth every penny. I was able to take off my brake drums, service the adjuster stars, wheel cylinder, find that my brake pads were in good order and realize that my bearings needed to be replaced. It was one of the most satisfying things I have ever done with my hands (get your minds out of the gutter).

All this from a communications major with little or no experience turning a wrench.

After watching the videos and then crawling under my Thing I realize what a cool piece of machinery it is. I like the idea of being able to fix it all myself. Those German engineer's knew what they were doing when they build the early VWs. It seems to me that the early VWs were built by engineers who wanted the people driving them to be able to work on them.

[Captain Spalding]

+1 on the BugMe videos. Really great. If only they'd do one on setting up dual IDFs.

[74 Thing]

Just make sure you leave enough free play in the front bearing to allow for expansion due to heat-a good brass drift or race installer is a good tool to have as well as good synthetic wheel bearing grease, gloves and shop towels and brake cleaner.

[Rev. Scott]

i just did wheel bearings, front and rear, inner and outer, two weeks ago; and in my dirt driveway too...mmmmm dirt and new bearings, mmmmm!! did the brakes and wheel cylinders while i was in there and cleaned the stars too. shoulda had the drums turned, but the services around here are limited to say the least. ide never pulled a cv and the last wheel bearing i did was on a volvo! the whole shooting match came in well under six hours and that include lunch and beer breaks! just put on my new kads today, four hours, the hardest part was getting the old manifold center section out...but i digress! the bearings were a piece of cake, gloves would have been handy though!...

[halfgut]

Cap'n
cip1 has the Front wheel bearing, inner: listed as 311405625"D"
JBugs has it listed as "B"
and Thethingshop has it listed as "D"

The list you posted has it as "B"

Can you tell me if it matters, what the real letter designation is and what is the difference?

[Captain Spalding]

[bciesq]

While we're on the topic, I'll pass along a tip that served me well: Put the new races in the freezer for a while before installing them -- they'll shrink a little and won't need as much persuasion. Also, if you don't have a press, use the old race to tap in the new one -- you can't get the new race all the way in before old one starts to go into the drum, but this method will get you most of the way.
_________________
'73 Thing -- making 45 mph exciting again.

[halfgut]

Thanks again.

[uberautowerks]

Keep in mind that the outer bearing is the same from 1966 up on ALL Type 1 based vehicles and the inner is the same from "late" 1968 up.
-
That is the wheel bearings are NOT Thing specific.
_________________
--- The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair.
- Douglas Adams -
---
'74 Thing (White)
'71 Single cab (White too)
'70 Weekender (White three)
'05 Evolution VIII (White also!!!)
'68 F-250 (White over black)