Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Pinch a Penny, Spend a Pound; Rear Hub Issue
Forum Index -> HBB Off-Road Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
scubasteve321
Samba Member


Joined: December 04, 2015
Posts: 247

scubasteve321 is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Aug 06, 2020 9:00 pm    Post subject: Pinch a Penny, Spend a Pound; Rear Hub Issue Reply with quote

Hey All, perhaps this should be in the story section but also have a question regarding the mechanical aspects of the set up

Whereas I wanted to splash down some money and have a 'professional' work on my 76 Baja Bug, particularly due to the amount of work I had done myself and with my mentor previously, I hired a mobile mechanic to work on a faulty rear wheel bearing

You all already know where this is going

Mechanic shows up and 20 minutes into the job he finds me and informs me he has stripped out the 12 point heads that hold the hub enclosure on. I thought, huh that's weird.

So I run to the store and get the closest they had, 6 point with a lock washer, per his recommendation.

After another hour he tells me that the parts I got, from a local VW Specialist Shop, were not correct, as he said the larger bearing would not fit inside

He said he needed two of the same size bearing, like the outer one

So I went back to the VW Specialist Shop and they double checked and confirmed no, two different sizes. So I ask for a print out and bring it to the mechanic

While we were reviewing it he noticed that the shop may have given me the CV Bearing and a Hub Bearing, so went back and got the another "Hub Bearing"

Thus, he ended up installing the Hub with an inner and outer bearing of the same size...

After multiple more trips to the store because he didn't have brake cleaner, or gloves, and he didn't notice the threads were gumbed up on the axle nut (should have checked when he pulled it off) There was one final trip to the store

At this point I was out 3 hours of my own time and about 100 in parts

Finally, we get the right axle nut on and he torques it down. But, when he properly torques it down the wheel locks up and the hub "sucks in"

Well past where the cotter pin clearly goes

When I sent this pic to the boss of the mobile mechanic, as well as a comparison shot of the other side, the boss goes, just looks like a cotter pin is missing to me

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I pointed out that not only is it missing, but the functionality of it is clearly lost; not to mention the wheel is completely locked up when torqued properly.

The first time the mobile mechanic left, with the time between securing the correct axle nut, he tightened it with the impact driver and it locked up and sucked in, then he loosened it, banged in the hub with a mini sledge hammer and then (self proclaimed) 'gorilla strength' hand tightened it.

I pointed out he didn't use a torque wrench and the specifications are 240 ftlbs, he said it's good to go....

I didn't trust it nor him so ended up getting a torque wrench, and, sure enough, with the leverage of the torque wrench is spun tighter very easily

These 'mechanics' put my life in danger due to their negligence. If I were to drive that the wheel could have flung off and caused catastrophic injury to myself and others.

Thanks for getting this far if you did;

Hopefully this write up can help persuade others who are on the fence between pinching a penny, because not only may you spend a pound, it may cost you your life



Some questions for you all;

What are your suspicions for hub "sucking" in? Missing Spacer?

Any one have experience with IRS Bug Hubs? Should there be two different size bearings for inner and outer? or two of the same?

Any advice on how to proceed further? At minimum I was looking at doing a credit card charge back; at a maximum suing in small claims court.
_________________
1971 Campmobile Tin-Top
1971 Campmobile Pop-Top
1974 VW Bus
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Mickey bitsko
Samba Member


Joined: June 13, 2019
Posts: 511
Location: New Mexifornia
Mickey bitsko is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:24 am    Post subject: Re: Pinch a Penny, Spend a Pound; Rear Hub Issue Reply with quote

wow, is all i can say...live and learn , i certainly will not criticize your decision to hire a " professional". but i'm not sure i would throw any more money at these yayhoos. small claims cost you money and judgements don't mean squat.
sounds like you've beat yourself up enough already.... move on ?

FWIW, a lot lot of us have been in your shoes
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
rayjay
Samba Member


Joined: March 26, 2008
Posts: 1501
Location: Buford GA
rayjay is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:34 am    Post subject: Re: Pinch a Penny, Spend a Pound; Rear Hub Issue Reply with quote

You must have specialists work on specialist vehicles. End of story.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
joemama
Samba Member


Joined: February 09, 2006
Posts: 1635
Location: La Crescenta, California
joemama is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 10:41 am    Post subject: Re: Pinch a Penny, Spend a Pound; Rear Hub Issue Reply with quote

On these vehicles you really need to match the old parts when you buy new ones, as you never know if what you have is original, or has been changed to a different year, or? Sounds like you have the wrong bearings. I think you should be able to get a refund on what they charged
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Matt Wilson
Samba Member


Joined: November 14, 2005
Posts: 2406
Location: Colorado
Matt Wilson is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Pinch a Penny, Spend a Pound; Rear Hub Issue Reply with quote

Sounds like you may be missing a spacer in the 'bearing stack'. there is one long spacer that goes between the two bearing inner races, and two small spacers. Tightening down the axle nut without a spacer will probably ruin something and the hub will bind against the backing plate.

You may as well take it apart and re-do it, especially if you don't trust the work that was performed. If the mechanic didn't have a torque wrench, at least for the 12pt CV bolts, chances are, they could be too tight/too loose.

The inboard bearing is the 'ball' bearing and the outboard is the 'needle' bearing.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
1972 Standard Beetle
1969 Baja Beetle
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
scubasteve321
Samba Member


Joined: December 04, 2015
Posts: 247

scubasteve321 is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 1:52 pm    Post subject: Re: Pinch a Penny, Spend a Pound; Rear Hub Issue Reply with quote

thanks y'all!

will keep you updated
_________________
1971 Campmobile Tin-Top
1971 Campmobile Pop-Top
1974 VW Bus
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> HBB Off-Road All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.