<VV> Bearing Lube Interval

[N. Joseph Potts]

Yes, lube them. I doubt the effective life of a grease applied in 1987 (if
it even was, then) could be 17 years, and that's WITHOUT the contamination
that usually occurs in usage.
    Things that CAN go wrong (but won't, if you work carefully and in full
accordance with published instructions): (a) you might misadjust your wheel
bearings on reassembly. This adjustment is NOT tricky, nor does it require
special instruments - just follow the Shop Manual (which DOES call for a
torque wrench, but this work is approximate enough that torque MEASUREMENTS
are not required); (b) you might neglect to have new wheel-bearing seals on
hand, and reusing the old ones, you might allow a leak of wheel-bearing
grease onto your brake linings, ruining them. It's easy to avoid (b): just
get and use new wheel-bearing seals (cheap and readily available). You'll
need one of these for each wheel, and also for each wheel, you'll need one
cotter pin. Get these items in advance, along with the grease and maybe some
solvent to clean the bearings in, and you're good to go!
     If you're new to this type of work and/or your schedule allows you only
short intervals in which to work, note: this is two completely SEPARATE
jobs: left wheel, and right wheel. There's no harm whatsoever in doing one
wheel, driving around some, then doing the other one.

Joe Potts
Miami, Florida USA
1966 Corsa coupe 140hp 4-speed with A/C

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-admin@corvair.org]On Behalf Of
UltraMonzaWest@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2004 12:29 AM
To: jon.gilbert@adelphia.net; virtualvairs@corvair.org
Subject: Re: <VV> Bearing Lube Interval


In a message dated 3/20/2004 8:47:18 PM Pacific Standard Time,
jon.gilbert@adelphia.net writes:
I have had my Corvair for 17 years, and driven it about 15,000 miles.  I had
the brakes done when I first got the car, and I assume that my mechanic
lubed the wheel bearings at that time, way back in 1987.