September 30, 2007

• Van Update

  I’m an old pro at taking apart Vanagon front wheels now. Not that it’s terribly difficult…

  

  As I mentioned in the last van update, I did exploratory surgery on the driver’s side spindle, and discovered that it needed to be replaced. Since then, I finally got around to checking the passenger side, and found it not nearly as depressing. One small spot of scoring, but nothing all that bad.

  And of course this led me to doubt my sanity. Had I simply been too freaked out at *any* scoring, and overestimated the problem? Time to pull that wheel back off and check again.

  

  No, I was right the first time. The shiny tapered part is supposed to be shiny and tapered, but if you look at the larger version of the picture, you can see where it’s been scored on the narrow end just where it shoulders down. Very bad sign. Then there’s that dark part with the grooves in it that’s supposed to look shiny with no grooves. Then the threaded part which is OK, except that the channel for the tab on the thrust washer has been deformed to the point that a) the thrust washer can spin around about 30 degrees or so, and b) you can’t actually tighten the nut to where you’re supposed to tighten it. Which I guess is actually not OK at all, is it? I have to wonder which of these problems came first. Chicken/egg scenario. If I were a jerk, I’d just file down the threads and hope for the best. But I’m not a jerk. Am I? Hmm.

  So both sides get a new rotor, bearings, seals, thrust washers, and nuts. The passenger side gets a new tie rod end (the boot is cracked), and the driver’s side gets a new spindle. It’s all purchased except for the spindle and rod end. The spindle will be, as they say, previously-owned, and will likely have its own ball joints attached (cuz they’re a pain to remove). If those joints are OK, then Bob’s your uncle. Otherwise it’s time to get new joints, and rent some special tools to install them… Essentially a big fat C-clamp with special adaptors. W00t. I could re-use the joints that are on the van now, but if I’m going to rent the tools, it’ll be new joints.

  Yesterday was pound-bearing-races-into-a-rotor day. CLANG! CLANG!! CLANG! I hammered on a 36mm socket to start the outer race, and the rear axle nut tool for the inner race. Then a punch, following the five-bolt pattern in the sign of the pentagram, clockwise. All you neopagans out there know what I’m saying, don’t ye? Just nod your heads.

  I was going to do the whole thing on the passenger side (races, bearings, grease, seals, tighten) but it started raining, and I had breathed in enough brake cleaner already. The weather has decidedly turned for the worse, so I’m going to have to set up a tarp or something to work underneath. Ahh, the pitter patter of rain on the plastic tarp… The runoff soaking into my pants as I sit on the asphalt… The desperate retreat to the hot shower after working…

  Some pictures of what I’m up against.

  • 4:52 am
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