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Can this spindle be saved?
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dhaavers
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:08 pm    Post subject: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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:

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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... Evil or Very Mad
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... Evil or Very Mad

Thanks in advance... Rolling Eyes Embarassed Confused

- Dave
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dhaavers
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:14 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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 [ Shocked Shocked Shocked ] 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!)

Twisted Evil Confused Wink

- Dave
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Sodo
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:17 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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. Shocked

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.
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dhaavers
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:23 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

Sodo wrote:
Yikes thats no way to open Vanagon season...

InDEED... it's "all part of the fun" as I always say... Rolling Eyes <shrug> Wink

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... Cool

- Dave
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

A dremel fiber cutoff wheel is what I think you want to cut that race. Let
us know if the diamond wheel works.
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:41 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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
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?Waldo?
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:52 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 8:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

Cool - I have some of the Dremel fiber discs too...I'll start with those.

- Dave
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:02 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

Yep the ones that are about an inch and a half in diameter. They rock.

This size.

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dhaavers
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

^^^ Check...I'm on it. Thanks, gents!

- Dave
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:52 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 10:21 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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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PostPosted: Sun Mar 24, 2019 10:31 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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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PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 3:08 am    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

Agree, thatbtapered part of the shaft does nothing. The proof is once you get that bearing race off, what is under it.

It isn't stuck without a cause. My guess is that it spin welded itself onto the spindle once the bearing rollers went bad.

I'm guessing that once removed...... yes, you will need a spindle.

Get the Dremel EZ Lock cut off wheel assembly, MUCH MUCH MUCH better than the tiny screw system of old!

Dave
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 3:19 am    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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.
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 4:18 am    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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...

Rolling Eyes Wink

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PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 6:29 am    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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.
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 5:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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>

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PostPosted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 6:11 pm    Post subject: Re: Can this spindle be saved? Reply with quote

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.
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