Rear wheel bearings

[blakeys80]

Hi everyone, I'm currently cracking on with a shell that has been stood for a few years. Whilst refinishing the engine bay, I've decided to refurbish the trailing arms, replace the rotten brakes and de-rust and tidy up the hubs.
With that in mind, before removing the wheels, I checked for any play, there was none what so ever on either side, in any plain.
I have removed the oil seals tonight, nothing nasty just a little corrosion on the stub axle, and old but clean grease.
So my question is this, do I replace them as a matter of course, or as there was no play in them to start with,do I clean everything down, re-grease and re-fit?

Answers on a postcard please

Many Thanks

[R0B]

Theres a post card in the post.

[Aidan]

if it ain't broke.......

[blakeys80]

Theres a post card in the post.

As long as it's not with a P45

[blakeys80]

if it ain't broke.......

Just my kind of thinking, im just a bit twitchy as I've not really done any bearings before, Cheers

[bigbadbob76]

I checked for any play, there was none what so ever on either side,

You lucky, lucky, baaastd.

[trundletruc]

All the vans I have owned have had play in the rear wheel bearings! That is the nature of the roller bearings. With only one ball race to stop the movement, which quickly wears, in my experience (35years) there will always be a little play. As long as the wheel turns smoothly you should be okay.

[937carrera]

I have recently done mine.

One side had plenty of play, new bearings,all the play was gone
The other side had less play, replaced them, less play than before but still a small amount of play remaining.

The bearings probably had 200,000 miles on them

I'd leave well alone

[Aidan]

there will always be some play even with new bearings when cold as the inner bearing is a C3 grind annular ball bearing, designed to be just tight when hot so take it for a good run on the way to the MOT explain to the MOT tester there are no taper bearings in there and get them to check for paly before doing the rest of the test
The outer roller bearing rarely wears it will nearly always be the inners or the housing itself that are causing the play
If you feel for play after fitting new bearings into the hub and having pressed the inner axle in put say 5 tonnes of force on the races you will feel that very slight C3 play when cold

[blakeys80]

Thanks for all the replies, really helpful. Good to pick up more knowledge. I've cleaned up and treated the hubs now, ready to refit to the trailing arms when the bushes arrive (what a a*** of a job to remove those!) So hopefully all will be ok, and if not, at least I know how it all comes apart now

[Titus A Duxass]

,,,,,,ready to refit to the trailing arms when the bushes arrive (what a a*** of a job to remove those!) ....

Wait until you try and fit the new bushes (unless you've gone the Powerflex route).

[multisi]

I bet there was nothing wrong with the trailing arm bushes !

[clift_d]

,,,,,,ready to refit to the trailing arms when the bushes arrive (what a a*** of a job to remove those!) ....

Wait until you try and fit the new bushes (unless you've gone the Powerflex route).

For a T3 the Powerflex bushes are as hard to fit as the VW ones - if you can buy or borrow the special tool 3053 it helps greatly with this job.

[maxstu]

What is stopping Powerflex making the trailing arm bushes the same way as it's steering rack bushes? In two halves and a single stainless steel insert.

In fact I'm starting to move away from these overpriced Powerflex items anyway. I've fitted steering rack, ARB's and gearbox bushes to my past 1986 DG 1900 and felt very little difference...apart from an emptying wallet

I'm about to change my trailing arms and I'm going to buy OEM's or similar bushes. Then cut them in half and fit with plenty of appropriate grease....

[blakeys80]

I bet there was nothing wrong with the trailing arm bushes !

Good job I'm not a gambling man then They were shot, cracked up + missing bits of rubber. The trailing arms needed a decent refurbishment too so all par for the course. Going to try fitting original bushes first, as they've lasted long enough up to now, and apart from being easier to fit, PU bushes seem to offer little else overall.