Stub axle/bearing woes on a 70 Riviera

[sodbuster]

I'd like to point out here that the generator shim under the brake drum trick will not work in this case. As the size of the bus stub axle is much larger than the I.D. of the generator shim.

This trick is best for bug, type 3 and pre 64 bus applications with axles that take the 36mm axle nuts.

sounds to me like the spacer between the bearings is too short. (But you already know that.) You also may be "bottoming out" the threads of the stub axle while tightening things up. that may be the reason you are breaking the nuts.

my 2 cents

[SGKent]

[TDCTDI]

They are definitely different, you can see in this ad...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2063982

You can see the difference in the length of the splines in the center two, the drum may be bottoming out on the splines & not the bearings.
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GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Tram]

[Tram]

Of course it could not possibly be that easy or straightforward.

Every dimension measures out exactly the same from the new stub to the old. Used brake drum installed... same shit.

Which brings me back to the outer bearing having gotten moved out just a hair or cocked when I drove the replacement stub in. Going there next.

Triple damn it.
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[SGKent]

Does anyone here have an early stub axle to see if the splines are the same? Could the PO have swapped axles or housing and that caused the problems needing repair now.

Last option would be to pull the stub axle from the other side and see if it fits when swapped, and vice versa if not. Usually the stub will slide out without having to disassemble the bearings. That said the hub carrier is also different on early and late bay according to what others have written.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[lil-jinx]

The torque on the axle nut goes down the center of the shaft thru the spacers and the inner races and should not affect end play unless it is sloppy loose,the high torque on the nut is to prevent the drum/hub from moving on the shaft.End play is controled by the press fit of the inside bearing and it's fit between the snap-ring and the shoulder in the housing,if that bearing is sliding around in it's bore you will have end play.there will be a tiny amount of play in the bearing,if there was no play the bearing would seize.
Sound like you have 2 problems,the nut not going down pass the hole could be just a nut that is too thick,a shaft that is too short,or a spacer that is too long.
As for nut cracking while tightening,that's a new one for me.
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1974 Bay Westfalia. she likes to be called Ethel.
1968 Dune Buggy
1974 parts bus
A smart man learns from his mistakes,a very smart man learns from other's mistakes.

[TDCTDI]

I'm surprised that you had to drive the stub axle in, mine slide rather easily in & out of the bearings. The bearing may have been cocked in the housing to begin with.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Tram]

[SGKent]

look at this ad. I see a difference in length and a difference in cotter pin hole size but I am an old man with vision that is headed downhill.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1656653
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Tram]

[Tram]

[SGKent]

see what the part number is on the carrier

The fiche shows

211-501-253 and 211-501-254 for 8/67 - 7/70

then

it shows after 8/70 the numbers 211-501-253/B and 211-501-254/B, then it shows 211-501-253/E and 211-501-254/E also for after 8/70 but the part is labeled "reinforced."

_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[TDCTDI]

[Tram]

[Wildthings]

[Tram]

[Tcash]

early and late cotter pins are the same 5x55

[TDCTDI]

With the bearings installed, is the spacer sleeve somewhat snug between the bearings or is there excessive slop?

Just so you can see what's going on, remove the brake shoes & install the drum on backwards to see if it's snagging on something on the splines.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Tram]