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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7733 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:08 pm Post subject: Can this spindle be saved? |
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Long story short, PS front wheel bearing gave up yesterday with nearly zero warning. First day out on the road after
winter hibernation; at first I thought I was dragging a caliper, but...no.
Anyway...eventually got home, back in the garage, cleaned it up & here's what I'm looking at:
Q's:
1) Is it worth cleaning up & running again?
2) If so, how to get the outer race off? I tried heat (propane), penetrant & a bit of brute force but so far she's not budging...
3) If so & I can get the race off, how to clean things up? I thought maybe a few hours of emory cloth treatment, but I'm all ears for suggestions...
4) If not, where to source replacement? Only spindles I've come across are for 80-85...
Thanks in advance...
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7733 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:14 pm Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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PS: Long version, FYI:
1) heard scraping/squawking, stopped on shoulder, jacked up wheel...
2) verified excessive play @ 9&3, then 12&6 o'clock...
3) pulled grease cap, removed axle nut/thrust washer...
4) found little if any remaining outer bearing [ ] so...
5) removed all possible remaining bearing bits...
6) packed in some fresh grease for starters...
7) (in place of toasted bearing) jammed hub with as much spare electrical hookup wire as I could fit...
8 ) packed in as much more fresh grease as would fit...
9) modified grease tub lid to act as oversized grease "seal" under thrust washer...
10) replaced washer & axle nut, then drove home slowly (35mph) with nary a squeak or squeal.
11) Checked it a couple times along the way with no obvious signs of additional distress.
Flame on, trolls...(help, please!)
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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Sodo Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 9525 Location: Western WA
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:17 pm Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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Yikes thats no way to open Vanagon season.
The bright side is members now have seen how you ruin irreplaceable parts driving on a trashed bearing with no rollers.
Cut the race with an angle grinder thin “cutoff wheel”. Stop just before all the way thru & try to split the race by pounding a chisel into the cut. You might need a heavy sledge held on by a helper to “back it up” so you’re not putting hammer blows into your steering & stuff. Could cut it on two sides it might just break in half.
Hope its hasn’t welded itself on.
Well that’s the first step, getting the race off. Then see about refurbishing it. Probably can run it again. _________________
'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 |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7733 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:23 pm Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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Sodo wrote: |
Yikes thats no way to open Vanagon season... |
InDEED... it's "all part of the fun" as I always say... <shrug>
Thanks for the tip. Think a dremel "diamond" blade is tough enough to cut through
the race? It's what I have right now, so I s'pose I'll try it & let you know...
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16477 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Sodo Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 9525 Location: Western WA
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:41 pm Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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Diamond blade is tough enough, it just prob won't last long enough to cut thru.
I bet the blade is "done" before the cut is 1/16" deep. The grinding disc might go farther.
If you are near a Harbor Freight,
Angle grinder $14.99 https://www.harborfreight.com/4-12-in-43-amp-angle-grinder-69645.html It will last long enough to cut a few bearing races, but not much longer.
Cutoff discs, 4 1/2" 5 for $5.99 https://www.harborfreight.com/4-12-in-60-grit-thin-metal-cut-off-wheel-5-pc-61153.html
Or try this 1 1/2" diameter cutoff spindle in a hand drill $5.99 https://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-2-half-inch-cut-off-wheels-3-pack-34749.html _________________
'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 |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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The dremel fiber reinforced cutoff wheels would make short work of that. Home depot sells the 20 pack. They're worth having around for that type of job. |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7733 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:53 pm Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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Cool - I have some of the Dremel fiber discs too...I'll start with those.
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:02 pm Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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To be clear, I'm not talking about the redish cutoff wheels that blow up if you look at them. I'm talking about these:
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16477 Location: Brookeville, MD
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7733 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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^^^ Check...I'm on it. Thanks, gents!
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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hdenter Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2008 Posts: 2749 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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Really? Even if you get the race off, the end of the spindle still looks like crap. I wouldn't want that in there. Spindles are not that rare, got to be a couple in the classified.
Hans _________________ '79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50270
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 10:21 pm Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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Dremel sells a cutoff wheel kit that is much tougher than the ones shown. Way way better in my book.
Dremel EZ406 |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 10:31 pm Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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hdenter wrote: |
Really? Even if you get the race off, the end of the spindle still looks like crap. I wouldn't want that in there. Spindles are not that rare, got to be a couple in the classified.
Hans |
I don't see why the marks on the spindle matter. I don't believe it's a wear surface and the marks are not deep enough to have damaged it structurally. |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32438 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22575 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 3:19 am Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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If that race spun , you won’t be able to trust it to stay in place.
Hunt up a new spindle, get your car back on the road, then see if it’s recoverable on running Vanagon time.
I think opening it up will show the ugly. _________________ .ssS! |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7733 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 4:18 am Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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As always, thanks for the chatter...we'll know all about it when I get in there. I already
have the Dremel EZ lock & fiber reinforced discs on hand...now I just need the time...
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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markswagen Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2018 Posts: 962 Location: san diego
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 6:29 am Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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Which side do you need, I have an extra drivers side currently, due to EXACTLY the same issue, the one I have is worse, the end of the spindle has turned blue, that bit of the bearing friction welded it's self to to the spindle, I had to cut through the bearing inner twice, and spend a few minutes beating it off.
Because of discoloration I cut it VERY deep, so that no one would even try and remember use it.
Anyway, I have a spare drivers side, I could supply with a new moog ball joints pressed in, pm me. _________________ markswagen {mobile mechanic} san diego area all early VW's cared for.
619 201 0310 |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7733 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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markswagen wrote: |
Which side do you need... |
Thanks for the awesome offer, but unfortunately the item in question is the PS.
Not sure when/if I can get to it before Friday, but I'll keep all y'all posted...
- Dave
PS: Mark's post got me thinking...would you say the PS outside bearing is more
prone to wear due to typical "crowned" road construction? (i.e.: constant slight
"turning left" to keep tracking straight...???) <shrug> _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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Gnarlodious Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2013 Posts: 2313 Location: Adobe Jungle USA
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? |
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My experience is the driver’s side spindle and bearing is more prone to failure due to the ingress of water through the speedometer cable lockdown hole. _________________ Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit |
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