71 ghia rear wheel bearings: do they 'run in oil' or are they 'packedwith grease'?

contemplating a very long distance tow, about a thousand miles or just
over. I've repacked numerous VW front wheel bearings, but never rears,
in a ghia. my biggest worry is 'in the header':

do the rear wheel bearings 'run in hypoid oil' OR are they 'grease
packed' like the front wheel bearings? (not talkin' about the transaxle
here - I'm talkin' about 'the outboard bearings, closest to the wheels,
just behind the brakes')

if the rear wheel bearings 'run in oil', I assume that (what would on a
VW van be called 'the transfer case', but not in the ghia, since there's
no gears in there) there must be a oil-fill plug in 'the bearing
carrier' housing? AND an oil-drain plug near it? or maybe there's -only-
a fill plug? is the same type and size tool required as the transaxle
17mm male? or?

if they're 'packed in grease', I'm guessing 'it's an involved procedure'
requiring (at least) removing the rear drums, rear brake shoes, both
CV-jointed shafts (at least on their outboard sides), along with the
square plate with four bolts (and maybe the axle, too?) are 'presses
and/or specialty pullers' required to do this correctly, then?

that'd be time-consuming...and way complex...

thanks for tips and clues, *very* much appreciated :-)

toolie

dave wrote:

> contemplating a very long distance tow, about a thousand miles or just
> over. I've repacked numerous VW front wheel bearings, but never rears,
> in a ghia. my biggest worry is 'in the header':
>
> do the rear wheel bearings 'run in hypoid oil' OR are they 'grease
> packed' like the front wheel bearings? (not talkin' about the transaxle
> here - I'm talkin' about 'the outboard bearings, closest to the wheels,
> just behind the brakes')
>
> if the rear wheel bearings 'run in oil', I assume that (what would on a
> VW van be called 'the transfer case', but not in the ghia, since there's
> no gears in there) there must be a oil-fill plug in 'the bearing
> carrier' housing? AND an oil-drain plug near it? or maybe there's -only-
> a fill plug? is the same type and size tool required as the transaxle
> 17mm male? or?
>
> if they're 'packed in grease', I'm guessing 'it's an involved procedure'
> requiring (at least) removing the rear drums, rear brake shoes, both
> CV-jointed shafts (at least on their outboard sides), along with the
> square plate with four bolts (and maybe the axle, too?) are 'presses
> and/or specialty pullers' required to do this correctly, then?
>
> that'd be time-consuming...and way complex...
>
> thanks for tips and clues, *very* much appreciated :-)
>
> toolie

Grease.

Up thru '68, they swam in Hypoid.
Not because of any reduc box but because the old
swing axle design was used and the tubes for the
axle were connected to the gearbox and Hypoid
filled both at once.

Back to your query: If the rear axle bearings
aren't rumbling now, I would not do a thing.

If you want to see what is involved (you're correct;
it's a LOT!), go to the Mechanical Section of my
web site and look for: " Bearing replacement on the IRS rear axle."


Speedy Jim
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/

thanks, speedy. as always, your help much appreciated.

one last question, if I may: if I just want to "drive out" the stub
axle, and leave the (assumed to be undamaged) outer races in place, and
clean it all up best i can from under the car, (and in a wash tub, of
course) can I perhaps "drive out" the stub axle with a huge brass drift
and heavy hammer? while the carriers themselves are still *attached* to
the car, I mean? like withOUT doing the "chisel marks top and bottom and
total unbolting it all over everywhere for complete removal" type deal?

that'd definitely have 'more appeal' for me....

umm, the car has 54K orig miles on it, but the journey is 1100 miles,
one-way...the car has, essentially, sat, unmoved, for roughly ten yrs,
indoors...with VERY minor exceptions, like once every fifth year I
hand-pushed it twelve feet or so...to another spot in the shop...

when *do* the rear axle bearings "generally" (or roughly, on average,
sort'a) give up the ghost and call it quits?

thanks again, sir,

toolie

Speedy Jim wrote:
> dave wrote:
>
>> contemplating a very long distance tow, about a thousand miles or just
>> over. I've repacked numerous VW front wheel bearings, but never rears,
>> in a ghia. my biggest worry is 'in the header':
>>
>> do the rear wheel bearings 'run in hypoid oil' OR are they 'grease
>> packed' like the front wheel bearings? (not talkin' about the
>> transaxle here - I'm talkin' about 'the outboard bearings, closest to
>> the wheels, just behind the brakes')
>>
>> if the rear wheel bearings 'run in oil', I assume that (what would on
>> a VW van be called 'the transfer case', but not in the ghia, since
>> there's no gears in there) there must be a oil-fill plug in 'the
>> bearing carrier' housing? AND an oil-drain plug near it? or maybe
>> there's -only- a fill plug? is the same type and size tool required as
>> the transaxle 17mm male? or?
>>
>> if they're 'packed in grease', I'm guessing 'it's an involved
>> procedure' requiring (at least) removing the rear drums, rear brake
>> shoes, both CV-jointed shafts (at least on their outboard sides),
>> along with the square plate with four bolts (and maybe the axle, too?)
>> are 'presses and/or specialty pullers' required to do this correctly,
>> then?
>>
>> that'd be time-consuming...and way complex...
>>
>> thanks for tips and clues, *very* much appreciated :-)
>>
>> toolie
>
> Grease.
>
> Up thru '68, they swam in Hypoid.
> Not because of any reduc box but because the old
> swing axle design was used and the tubes for the
> axle were connected to the gearbox and Hypoid
> filled both at once.
>
> Back to your query: If the rear axle bearings
> aren't rumbling now, I would not do a thing.
>
> If you want to see what is involved (you're correct;
> it's a LOT!), go to the Mechanical Section of my
> web site and look for: " Bearing replacement on the IRS rear axle."
>
>
> Speedy Jim
> http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/

dave wrote:
> thanks, speedy. as always, your help much appreciated.
>
> one last question, if I may: if I just want to "drive out" the stub
> axle, and leave the (assumed to be undamaged) outer races in place, and
> clean it all up best i can from under the car, (and in a wash tub, of
> course) can I perhaps "drive out" the stub axle with a huge brass drift
> and heavy hammer? while the carriers themselves are still *attached* to
> the car, I mean? like withOUT doing the "chisel marks top and bottom and
> total unbolting it all over everywhere for complete removal" type deal?
>
> that'd definitely have 'more appeal' for me....
>
> umm, the car has 54K orig miles on it, but the journey is 1100 miles,
> one-way...the car has, essentially, sat, unmoved, for roughly ten yrs,
> indoors...with VERY minor exceptions, like once every fifth year I
> hand-pushed it twelve feet or so...to another spot in the shop...
>
> when *do* the rear axle bearings "generally" (or roughly, on average,
> sort'a) give up the ghost and call it quits?
>
> thanks again, sir,
>
> toolie

Though the book says to take the entire trailing arm off,
I don't know anyone who would. The shaft drives out relatively
easily. BUT.......there is the danger of damaging a ball
bearing; they don't like hammering much :-)

Rather than go thru all that (and *something* WILL go wrong),
I would pull the drum ( a feat in itself) and shoes and then
squeeze new grease in thru the roller bearing. If you ask nice,
the bearing inner roller may come out without too much protest
(the inner race is separable).

Those bearings are quite durable. Unless water has gotten
in thru the seals, they easily go 200,000 miles.
Compare the size of them with the teeny rear wheel bearings
on Asian Frt wheel drive cars.

Well, it's your call...

Jim


>
> Speedy Jim wrote:
>
>> dave wrote:
>>
>>> contemplating a very long distance tow, about a thousand miles or
>>> just over. I've repacked numerous VW front wheel bearings, but never
>>> rears, in a ghia. my biggest worry is 'in the header':
>>>
>>> do the rear wheel bearings 'run in hypoid oil' OR are they 'grease
>>> packed' like the front wheel bearings? (not talkin' about the
>>> transaxle here - I'm talkin' about 'the outboard bearings, closest to
>>> the wheels, just behind the brakes')
>>>
>>> if the rear wheel bearings 'run in oil', I assume that (what would on
>>> a VW van be called 'the transfer case', but not in the ghia, since
>>> there's no gears in there) there must be a oil-fill plug in 'the
>>> bearing carrier' housing? AND an oil-drain plug near it? or maybe
>>> there's -only- a fill plug? is the same type and size tool required
>>> as the transaxle 17mm male? or?
>>>
>>> if they're 'packed in grease', I'm guessing 'it's an involved
>>> procedure' requiring (at least) removing the rear drums, rear brake
>>> shoes, both CV-jointed shafts (at least on their outboard sides),
>>> along with the square plate with four bolts (and maybe the axle,
>>> too?) are 'presses and/or specialty pullers' required to do this
>>> correctly, then?
>>>
>>> that'd be time-consuming...and way complex...
>>>
>>> thanks for tips and clues, *very* much appreciated :-)
>>>
>>> toolie
>>
>>
>> Grease.
>>
>> Up thru '68, they swam in Hypoid.
>> Not because of any reduc box but because the old
>> swing axle design was used and the tubes for the
>> axle were connected to the gearbox and Hypoid
>> filled both at once.
>>
>> Back to your query: If the rear axle bearings
>> aren't rumbling now, I would not do a thing.
>>
>> If you want to see what is involved (you're correct;
>> it's a LOT!), go to the Mechanical Section of my
>> web site and look for: " Bearing replacement on the IRS rear axle."
>>
>>
>> Speedy Jim
>> http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/

again, as always, your help much appreciated. thanks speedy jim :-)

> Though the book says to take the entire trailing arm off,
> I don't know anyone who would. The shaft drives out relatively
> easily. BUT.......there is the danger of damaging a ball
> bearing; they don't like hammering much :-)
>
> Rather than go thru all that (and *something* WILL go wrong),

umm, yeah, familiar with that :-/

I was -hoping- you might mention a 'compromise solution' of sorts, which
ya did, gosh dern GREAT, and *thanks* for that :-)!

> I would pull the drum ( a feat in itself)

they'll come off readily on my car. the splines are clean, and *very*
lightly greased...

> and shoes

shoes, springs, etc are already off :-)

> and then
> squeeze new grease in thru the roller bearing. If you ask nice,
> the bearing inner roller may come out without too much protest
> (the inner race is separable).

I assume we're talking about the inner race of the "outermost" bearings
(closest to the huge cottered nut) here, right? I have a huge old
plastic hypodermic, from a vetinary supply, which I use for shop stuff.
I was thinking of heating up some grease (to make it thinner
"injectable" consistency) and 'injecting it' into the carrier 'central
area'. question is how *much* to add? the hypodermic has a 'useable
internal volume area' approx .625 in diameter by about 2.250 inch long,
( but maybe only 1.750 long)...one *or* two 'full needleloads' per side
about right? or, just 'hand pack/schmear it on in there, as best I can,
with a total volume of new grease added per side of about 'one
golfball', or less, would you suggest? more?

> Those bearings are quite durable. Unless water has gotten
> in thru the seals, they easily go 200,000 miles.

or maybe I should just 'pass on the whole idea'...hmmm. been some
(fairly many) yrs since I cleaned off the brake backing plates, and I
don't remember exactly, but I don't recall any 'profound amounts' of
grease being on them.

thanks again, jim, much

toolie

<snipped our our old stuff here>