Re: [T3] [T-3] suspension bearings and retainer

["Jim Adney" <jadney@vwtype3.org>]

On 10 May 2001, at 22:34, Martinez, Leon wrote:

> found that the drivers
> side top arm attached to the torsion bar
> did not move in and out (good) but did
> move front and back a bit ! ouch !
> Bad bearings ? Worn arm ?

Either or both.

> Well after I picked my mom up I went to the 
> junkyard and pulled two arms and the torsion
> bar just in case. I am planning to get the 
> bearings too. How do i do this , is the 'bushing'
> that holds the bearing pressed in or screwed in?
> Do I need a puller? I just packed one in my car 
> for just in case.

There are 2 bearings on each side. The outer one is a needle 
bearing. It's pressed in and to get it out you need to get behind it 
and pull it out. The problem is that it's back wall is thin, so you 
need to pull carefully, applying pressure evenly around a wide 
section of its periphery. There is a good description of this in the 
Bentley manual. If you are not careful you will emerge with a bent 
piece of junk.  

The inner one is just a sleeve bearing and is hard to get out 
because it is so deep in there and pretty small in diameter. I have 
gotten them out of a junk front end by cutting the axle beam into 
pieces with a cutting torch.

> This arm moves alot , like almost a 1/4 inch
> back and forth. Has anyone seen this ?

To the front and rear? Really? That sounds like an awfully lot.

-
Jim Adney
jadney@vwtype3.org
Madison, WI 53711-3054
USA

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