Emergency breakdown advice (busted front wheel bearing)

[blackglasspirate]

Hi all, I am currently stranded and need some advice. We were going to Santiago from Mendoza to catch our flights back home and the driver's side wheel bearing bit the dust. I took the grease cap off and the bearing balls/rollers are crushing and coming out. I'm currently missing almost half of them. Is it at ALL ok to drive very slowly or am I in danger of the front wheel assembly falling off? We are now trying to figure out our options because there are no mechanics or parts where we are and we have a flight back to the States from santiago in 2 days.

Here is a pic but it's hard to see.

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'87 Vanagon GL Westfalia
IG: @holidayatsee
FB: https://www.facebook.com/holidayatsee

[E1]

How far would you have to drive?

Do you have another, fresh and peen-worthy lock nut?

BEST!
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[Zeitgeist 13]

Dude, that's bad...as in super bad. I know you're in a pickle, but that's just too risky to run on in that shape. Can you get it towed to a Santiago shop?
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[blackglasspirate]

Getting it towed to santiago unfortunately isn't an option because it's across the border. Which sucks because I know a good VW mechanic there. To get back to Mendoza would be bout 30 miles.

At this point there aren't a lot of good or cheap options.

Ironically I had just ordered new bearings from gowesty two days ago to pick up whenever I'm in the Us.
_________________
'87 Vanagon GL Westfalia
IG: @holidayatsee
FB: https://www.facebook.com/holidayatsee

[djkeev]

[E1]

Let me ask more...

How far to Santiago?

Where would the bus sit if in either town and at what costs?

How far driven as is or sudden noise already and here you are?

Expenses of those options critical to even consider what to do. Tow vs. storage vs. mileage risk of a 5 mph stumbles vs. side of road if/when bearing bits fly out and seize something.

Tow to just short of border, stumble across, then stumble or tow to Santiago? That distance would be everything to my decision if you.

So sorry, it'll work out.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[blackglasspirate]

So if that bearing goes all the way foobar and loses all the balls inside, the entire wheel will come off?

I don't want to risk that if that's the case.

Santiago I said about 300km, up a high and snowy pass. I had parking arranged there already with a mechanic. Parking in Mendoza will likely be at the airport. Not many options at this point. Just trying to figure out the best way to get the van somewhere I can leave it and then get us to santiago.

Ugh.
_________________
'87 Vanagon GL Westfalia
IG: @holidayatsee
FB: https://www.facebook.com/holidayatsee

[E1]

Oh... 300 km, that's news, and no way. Damn.

That's why I asked about another lock nut, I wouldn't try yours with new bearings or on a mini-bike. No offense here.

Mendoza only option. If through an entire cell area and low traffic, I know what I'd try at 5-10 if the tow significantly outweighed lots of connected parts in cost, and stopping to cool the failing parts every ten minutes. On the edge, though... but I ponder if your spindle and other parts are already gone anyway...

Regardless, the odds are way against you judging by the photo. Damn, again.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[levi]

No the wheel won't fall off.
What's happening is that the spindle is being gouged.
That means new bearings won't be able to work properly on the gouged spindle surface and they won't last long either.
You would then need a new spindle.

Edit
Thought it was 30 miles.
180 miles!
Wow.
Depending on how far along the damage already is, wow.
It would probably be in horrific shape.

Here is a quick thread and pics of a slightly damaged spindle, if you have already lost half as you say it may already be too far along.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683971&highlight=damaged+front+spindle
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[crazyvwvanman]

With it that bad and getting worse I'd also be worried about the brake pads dragging on that side and super heating the brake parts. Then the brake performance may be very uneven side to side. Drive slowly and stop to check temps a lot.

I don't even drive my vans across the US without a spare set of wheel bearings for front and rear. Can't imaging not carrying them on such a journey as this.

Mark

[IdahoDoug]

Pirate,

I've thought about this off and on for several hours trying to think of an out of the box solution. I've thought about jamming all the grease you can get in there and repeated stops to repeat. No - you're missing rollers and one/more are going to flip sideways and trash the spindle/jam/break something.

I've thought about pulling the bearing out, using just the center piece to reassemble so it properly holds the inner wheel bearing and driving like that with the involved tire pressure very low and the opposite side as high as possible (not even sure this is possible - have to go look at a wheel bearing on my bench). If it would work, this means the inner bearing is handling all the load. I'd grease the inner one, of course to help it cope.

I've thought about making a wood/plastic/metal sliding thing to bolt on and skid along.

I can't think of anything. However I will go get the bearing box to post the part number in case it is useful.
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[E1]

I wondered about a big-ass washer to keep the grease in.

If you can find bearings to order there, Holy Moly make sure they're not the earlier style for the smaller spindle made before early-'84!!!

(Or so relayed to me once, by someone matching my description)
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[Ahwahnee]

[dhaavers]

A crafty used car guy would just pack that full of greasy sawdust...???

Good luck/best wishes...

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[Abscate]

That bearing is good for 3 miles , not 300,and that will be at 3 mph.

Park it.

You also need to up your spare game when you are traveling in Unobtanium regions.
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.ssS!

[E1]

Thinking ahead from cynicality, sorry...

But if you have an automatic transmission, the tow company will need to bring a flatbed.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[11BC2]

[E1]

Well sure if that's failsafe (never had an Auto), worth it in tow savings, and an easy mechanical option both coming and going.

Post was about saving a potential rude awakening if the driver showed up with a hanger and says "There'll be no problem towing your Auto tranny."
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[Sodo]

Can you tow an auto trans if the engine is idling?
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[Wildthings]