new rotors and pads-reuse wheel bearings?

[randywebb]

Thanks!
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[Wildthings]

[randywebb]

[Vanagator]

So I noticed there are two peening spots on the spindle, the flat gap is for the thrust washer (of course). I peened the nut in both spots figuring I should only use the nut once anyway.

[morymob]

Front brngs are the least of your your problems if repacked regularly. Since '92 and on my 5th one have never had a brng problem, one a '84GL over 330K. My opinion is preload is what shortens life and now days a quality one gonna be harder to find. No cheap grease either.

[Bruce Wayne]

installed these in 2009,re-packed last August.

[Wildthings]

Long time in highway service on salt free roads. Throw in dust, water, salt, etc. and the life can easily be reduced by two thirds.

[randywebb]

how long do the wheel bearings usually last on Vanagons?

fronts vs. rears?
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[MarkWard]

Yes only peen in the flat of the spindle. The washer is slotted so there is no twisting action against the nut. The main concern would be the nut coming loose and backing off. There should be no turning action that would cause the nut to come loose. I think.

[Vanagator]

Well I decided to install new axle nuts on the front to be safe. I cant believe that the little peened/dented nut holds that wheel on! It seems a little unnerving to me. I guess the thrust washer must help the forces of the wheel from reaching the nut. I'm assuming all I need to do is smash it (peen it) in one place??

[Vanagator]

Another question on replacing my rotors: On the driver side, there's the speedometer cable poking out the center of spindle.
Should I do anything with it? I mean as far as re-greasing it somehow or anything???

[Vanagator]

Thanks for reply. I just took mine off and the axel nuts looked very slightly peened. I think I will re use them because I'm sure I can easily re-dent them into place. Unless someone knows something I dont on these.
Another option for me is to do the job and then replace the nuts when I get the parts in.

[Bntbrl]

I did not use new preened nuts for the front rotor either. I carefully inserted a screwdriver in the slots to get them to unscrew. I carefully peened then back on with my handy dandy flat faced flat pick body hammer.

Autozone, oreillys and countless other flaps rent or loan out those tools to remove/install bearings and races.
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia 1.9 wbx

www.DIYSeattle.com

[Vanagator]

Reviving this as I'm changing out my rotors and pads too. I noticed the Bentley states to "Alwas replace" the front Axel Nuts (the kind that get peened). I did not order these new when i made my parts order though.
Funny thing is I've read a few different posts and no one seems to mention it, they just put it back on I guess.
Is it possible to reuse these nuts? I dont think it is and so will have to wait to finish the job for those nuts....NUTS!

[Bruce Wayne]

well I just used a punch and slowly worked my way around and got out the races to use in my new rotors. did the same installing them in the new rotors. cleaned up the bearings real good and re-packed with fresh grease.

this is where things went wacky. went to put the new rotors on and they would not go on all the way. tried and tried with no luck. took out the bearings to make sure I had the races pounded in all the way,looked like they were in all the way. put the bearings back in and tried again,no go. called the shop were I bought them to see if there was some trick to it. he says no,they should slide right on. while I was talking to him on the phone I grabbed one of the old rotors to compare to the new,not the same. the new rotors were for the late model vanagons! when I first picked up the parts (got pads and rotors for the kids Jetta too) they were super busy at the shop,so I just grabbed my stuff,threw it in the van and off I went.

what I needed

what I got

While I still had him on the phone he checked to see if he had a set of rotors on the shelf,luckily he did. I brought everything down to the shop and he took out my old races and installed them in the correct rotors. took about 30 minutes for him to do it as he has no secretary and answers all phone calls himself,and there were quite a few calls. the other two mechanics were busy with a BMW. the rotors that were ordered were OP Parts brand at $46 each,the ones he gave me off the shelf were Brembos at $58.50 each. he did not charge me anymore for the Brembos or for labor. he did not make excuses about getting the wrong parts,he just made things right. he also loaned me a "special tool" I need to do the rear brakes on the kids Jetta tomorrow. I didn't ask,he offered it to me when I ordered all the pads and rotors a few days before,this was before the rotor situation on the van. morale of the story:if you are a bozo like me,double check your parts before you try to put them on.

[Terry Kay]

Tossing the race into the freezer is an excellent way to get this done real simple--and with half the effort.

They'll almost fall into the hub by themselves.

You most certainly can reuse the bearings & races if your careful removing the races, wash out, clean, blow out, & repack the bearings real good.

Get some seals on the inside of the hubs and your good to go.

Don't use cheap grease.

Use some no wash out, high temp red sticky grease.
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T.K.

[fairweather]

You can also use a brass rod from the local hardware store. They wanted 40$ for the official drift set but the rod cost 4$. The set might be cheaper if you have time but I needed it now and it worked fine for me.

[erdonline]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking that since the race/bearing kits are so cheap, and I'm not positive about the condition of the old ones, it would save a step to use new races and bearings with the new rotors.

Ed in CT
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'85 Vanagon Westfalia
'84 Vanagon 7-passenger
'98 Mexican air-cooled Beetle

[Christopher Schimke]

[riceye]