Random Part Identification

[vanillagorilla1969]

Greetings! Weird thing happened and I'm looking for guidance. Doing a brake job yesterday for the 1st time in this car...

Removed LH rear wheel... then removed RH wheel. The drum was stuck, so I put the wheel back on RH drum to assist in getting drum off... Jerking and clunking and then I heard something hit the ground on LH side.

Q1) It seems to be an extra oil seal washer?
-- Nothing looks wrong with the brake assembly or wheel, and it seems to be functioning fine.
Q2) Can the wheel/brake operate correctly with an extra washer?
-- I do not plan on putting washer back on, just wondering why someone might do this and if it could cause problems going forward.
Q3) What purpose would this washer have, if intentionally installed? Why would LH be different than RH?

RH has no such washer. See pics and advise.

*edit to add photo*

_________________
Topher
'63 Bug
'73 Squareback

[runamoc]

probably used as a spacer, or assembled incorrect order. Looks like it's 'inner seal spacer' on a IRS stub axle.

_________________
Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 45 yrs - Plan B: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs- '80 Rabbit Diesel
VW Wiring = It's just wires

[glutamodo]

As for functionality with that extra spacer in place... You ask about brake function, well you have the drum, what does the contact/wear pattern look like?

Also, how good was the alignment of the cotter pin hole with the castellations on the axle nut?
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Andy T.

"What is Glutamodo, Horror of Toyko, besides total, fiendish, quality-a-you brain!"

[vanillagorilla1969]

Pad wear was clean and normal.
I removed LH a while ago... as far as I remember, cotter pin was normal placement as well. Doesn't make sense sense to me.
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Topher
'63 Bug
'73 Squareback

[vanillagorilla1969]

[quote="runamoc"]probably used as a spacer, or assembled incorrect order. Looks like it's 'inner seal spacer' on a IRS stub axle.

Thanks for the reply. I know alot of this car was built at a junkyard in Kelso Wa, so random parts wouldn't surprise me.

Would you know what exact purpose would this spacer have, if intentionally installed? Why would LH be different than RH?
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Topher
'63 Bug
'73 Squareback

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

That particular washer/spacer with the inside chamfer/radius would be the INNER first most assembly spacer that makes the transition from the outer chamfer/radius axle shaft shoulder surface to mate properly to the ball bearing flat surface.

Hopefully its assembled correctly ..

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aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
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Usually and often edited

[mukluk]

Just a WAG...
Since the car was built in a junkyard, maybe what we're seeing is a transaxle with a '67 long/short axle on the RH side and a '68 long/long axle on the LH side. That additional inner spacer would be about the right width to account for the added spline length of the '68 axle, allowing a stock wide five drum to bolt on. It'd be useful to have a picture of the inside of the drums to see where the shoes were actually contacting. Could also measure the length of the splines to see how far they protrude from the outer spacer to see if they're different side to side.
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[75-911S]

I've seen such spacers used as Mukluk describes, but on the outside of the drum. To make the castle nut screw on and align with the cotter pin hole,

[runamoc]

[75-911S]

On the longer axels, without the spacers (whatever type used) the nut with go beyond the cotter pin hole before it tightens properly.

[mukluk]

To spitball another theory, if lug studs have been installed in the rear drums then the spacer may have been added so that the stud heads would clear the brake shoe hardware.
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[vanillagorilla1969]

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

Or the spacer was left out and Mr Junkyard just tossed it on to make it work.

67/68 axle reference

_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited

[mukluk]

[vanillagorilla1969]

VOLKSWAGNUT,
Thanks for the photos and suggestions. Great insight!

mukluk.
Sounds like a great plan. Much appreciated.
_________________
Topher
'63 Bug
'73 Squareback

[wagen19]

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

I agree.. .Id have to disassemble, inspect and take stock of the situation...

One thing is for certain with Old Vw's .. nothing is certain, never assume, and know ... it most definitely has been worked on at some point.

Axles and bearing and brakes are nothing to take lightly.

.
_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited