Rear Axle Bearing Cap

[fpeck1948]

I have a 66 swing axle and I am changing the 4 bolt drums that are on the rear due to stripped threads. I have a set of 1970 rear drums No. 501615G that I am going to have to have the snout shaved 5/8" due to short axles.

I just had the bearing and seals replaced on both the left and right rear. When I took off the old drum I found oil. It appears that I have 58-64 style bearing cap,s but I have no oil slingers.

Can I take the bearing caps off the 1970 I have found which the drums came off of and use those bearing caps. I see that I will have to drill a hole in the backing plate for the oil weep hole in the later style cap and get new sealing kits.

See this thread and note the size difference. Will this cause a problem?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=406753&highlight=bearing+caps

Is this the only modification I need to do?

You can see the slight oil leak on the adjuster at the bottom of the first photo and could this leak happen since I have had the car up on stands in rear for about a week with the axles hanging downward?

Thanks
Frank

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

No the 70's wont work. Bearing offset is different after 1967.

You can use the shrouded 65 66 67 bearing retainer with the internal slinger and drill the weep hole in the backing plate.
Just be sure you measure the cap bearing surface depth of what you currently have and make sure sure it matches the shrouded replacement. Thats the big key.

[fpeck1948]

I am a novice and first time at this and learning as I go with help from people like you, but could you please clarify in a bit more detail

"measure the cap bearing surface depth of what you currently have and make sure sure it matches the shrouded replacement."

Thanks
Frank

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

The rear outer bearing is sandwiched partially in the tube and partially in the cap.
If you measure the depth of the bearing surface recess of the tube, and measure the bearing surface recess of the cap, once you include the backing plate thickness it equals nearly bearing thickness.

In 1968 the placement of the bearing was moved 2mm deeper in the tube, which mean its moved 2mm shallower in the cap.

This also applied to IRS caps.

Note the 2mm difference 67 vs 68 axle tubes.
The bearing surface is 2mm deeper in the tube for 68 ( (or IRS arm) which means the cap bearing surface is 2mm shallower.

Even though the cap bearing surface isnt shown here, you can see the difference in the tube depth 67 vs 68.
The tube diff translates to the bearing diff in the caps. That same shallower cap bearing surface depth is also used on IRS caps.

This translates into... you cant mix "certain" caps..
Generally the rule of thumb is keep the respective caps with their respective tubes, but people like me prefer the internal slinger caps "shrouded seal", like found in 65-67.
Its an easily created refinement for 58-64 using the 65-67 caps and either the 65-67 rear backing plates (and rear shoes), or simply drilling the weep hole in the 58-64 backing plates


I guess I should have taken a pic of the caps inside when I snapped this pic over a year ago.

_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited

[fpeck1948]

So if I can find 65,66 or 67 Bearing caps (not using old style like I currently have requiring the oil slinger) I should be ok.

Thanks
Frank

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

I would normally just advise.. add the "drum slinger"... but since you have 4 lug drums.. its not an option.

To answer that last question...Yes, plus add the internal "oil deflector" and drill the backing plate weep hole.

Here.. you can see the different parts..

[JMkarmann]

ok old topic but hope somebody can help.

i have put new bearings in but when i retorque the cover my axle wont turn anymore. without the cover they turn free. the bearings are identical.
hope somebody knows why?

thanks for the reply

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

#1.. Did you remove the inner "spacer" and reinstall it correctly?
(note both spacer curved or radiused surface faces inward)

#2. Is the bearing 100% pressed on the axle firmly against the inner correctly installed spacer ?

#3 is everything assembled correctly?

#4.. did you pull the axle out any during the process?


It's quite possible you simply have not seated everything properly..
Often times the bearing isn't pressed all the way down and when the cap is tightened its basically bottoming the axle out deep into the differential side gears. UNTIL the drum is placed on and once torqued.. pulls the axle back home..

It's also possible.. it's assembled incorrectly.. and or the fulcrum plate have dropped into a incorrect position.

Only you know these..

.
_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited