Rear Wheel Bearing Snap Rings (HELP ME PLEASE!!!)

[Mr. Todd]

I have a question:
When replacing the rear wheel bearings in a 1971 Bus, are there supposed to be 1 or 2 large snaprings for each carrier? (i.e. one for the inside wheel bearing and one for the outside wheel bearing), OR, is there just one for the inside wheel bearing? I have now taken apart 3 '71 Bus rear carriers, and have found only 1 large Snap Ring, in each, all on the inside. There does not appear to be a groove in the carrier for any outside ring. The inside ring will not fit so the outside seal will go on. HOWEVER, two repair manuals (Muirs "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive...", and the Recent Bay Window Bentley Manual), and one friend of mine ( who has worked on VWs since the '60's), say there are supposed to be 2 ( identical) snap rings on each carrier. I am now totally confused, and am probably reading too much into this, but I lost a wheel on a trailer once, due to a bad wheel bearing, and I'm not ready to repeat the experience on Girlfriend's 71 Westy.

[germansupplyscott]

there is only one snap ring in the axle housing, on the inside. the outer bearing is retained by the wheel hub.
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SL

[bajorek]

Yes, there is only the inside one.