[Vwdiesel] 81 Rabbit - rear wheel bearings

[Roger Brown]

Rolf Pechukas wrote:
> hey all
> so my son and I tightened up the rear bearings this weekend
> (they were both loose - although this did not entirely cure the clunk  
> (I think still something needs attention in front pass side susp), OR  
> remove all the play in the bearing
> BTW, they say in Haynes no tighter than you can move the washer with  
> the tip of a screwdriver - although I found that *slightly* tighter  
> did remover the play in the wheel - I am assuming this will wear the  
> bearings more quickly, but since I plan to replace the bearing in the  
> next week or so, will this really be a problem?
> 
> also: although we replaced both caps carefully and seated them fully,  
> we somehow managed to lose one in the snow and salt and sand and  
> potholes up in ski country
> anyone have a spare?
> or know where we can order them?
> and what we might use to protect the bearing in the meantime??

You usually get a new cap with the wheel bearing kit.  Another option is to cut out a 
piece of plastic or similar material to the diameter of the cap and then glue it over the 
end of the hub.

-- 

   Roger