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Re: [T3] Front End axial play


On 7 Jun 99, at 17:59, oofacts@earthlink.net wrote:

> Moving my front left tire w/hands @12:00, I get a little axial play. Bentley
> says there shouldnt be any, but I have some questions about remedying this
> prob. Bentleys instructs are a little confusing.
> 1) Make sure wheel bearings are properly adjusted: This seems to require
> some pretty elaborate tools. I just had new bearings put in a year and eight
> months ago. There was no play then. Bearing maintenance is supposed to be
> every 30K. Is this porocedu躃sary and is there any way I can do it
> w/out the special guage? 

There should be just a trace of play; your's are probably fine.

> 2) Check ball joint play: ok, I either have to remove the steering knuckle
> or I have to have some zany lever gizmo.  - Is there any other way to do
> this and if not, whats it like taking out a steering knuckle? Can I do this,
> do the check and get it back in in a day (1st time) 

If you really want to check them, do it in place. Read the manual and 
study the diagrams until you really understand what you are doing and 
then figure out a way to do the job without the special lever. It can 
be done with a C-clamp and a vernier caliper. Chances are that they 
are fine as long as the rubber boots are intact. 

> 3) If it isnt the above, then I have to tighten the lockplate, and here's
> where it gets confusing: do I HAVE to replace the lockplate? Manual seems to
> say so but that was when parts were around... 
>  What is the relation between the lockplate and the adjusting nut? Is the
> plate on top of the nut, under the nut? How does the lockplate operate? Why
> does it say to tighten the adjusting bolt, then remove it?

Now I'm confused. What lockplate?

> 3A)In step 5 of this procedure, it says to tighten the adjusting bolt to
> where you can barely move the lockplate with your fingers. And yet in step 6
> it says to secure the bolt with the lockplate. Which is securing what, and
> How? 

Oh, are you now checking the sway bar end play? You can usually reuse 
this lockplate, but you don't have to touch the lock plate to check 
the play.

Ah-HA! I see what you're asking. Here's what you do. You have 2 
things that you might want to check. They can be checked 
independently.

Check the wheel bearing play by jacking up the front end and grabbing 
the wheel at 12 and 6 and wobbling it back and forth. It should have 
just a tiny bit of play.

Check the sway bar end play with the wheels on the ground. Have a 
friend grab the top of the LF wheel and shake it strongly in and out.诣嵼he is doing this, stick your finger in the grease where the 
upper trailing arm emerges from the front axle beam. You will 
probably feel some relative motion there as s/he shakes the wheel. 
The motion you feel is the axial play. It should be 1/2 mm or less. 
Yes, this requires some judgment on your part.

> 4) Step 7 says to again check the axial play. But it doesnt say what to do
> if there still IS play. 

This is a problem area on type 3s and there are several things that 
can go wrong. It is beat to just do the tests first and then we can 
discuss what you should do about it.

> Finally, if I really DO need new lockplates, anyone have some to sell me?

I might, or I could make one. It is best to save your old one and 
reuse it.

Jim
-
*******************************
Jim Adney, jadney@vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
*******************************

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