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  • shuttlepilot

    July 23, 2009 10:44 p.m. shuttlepilot Reader

    I am running a 94 Golf Sport and having a hard time removing the play from the rear axles. When I lean on the top of the tire and push, I can feel rocking of the axle. It is from definitely from the tolerances between the stub axle and bearings being a bit on the loose side. Because of this, I fail tech at auto-x and have to excuse my way out.

    I have replaced the stub axle, bearings and rotor with the same result. I assure you I have the correct amount of preload on the nut. Has anyone had a play free rear axle or is this something you live with on these cars?

  • fiat22turbo

    July 23, 2009 11:17 p.m. fiat22turbo SuperDork

    Is it a tapered roller bearing? If so you may have to set the play manually.

    On the FWD cars I've set, I've set the tension manually by rotating the spindle and adjusting the nut. Basically, I spin it by hand quickly and tighten the nut until it slows noticeably then I back it off a quarter turn or so then spin again to make sure it feels right.

    On new bearings you likely need to adjust the tension again after driving the car for a bit as the grease and bearings move and settle slightly after a little bit.

  • randyvr6

    July 24, 2009 9:09 a.m. randyvr6 New Reader

    Just remove the cap and cotter pin, and tighten the nut a little until you take all the play out of it, and reassemble.

  • shuttlepilot

    July 24, 2009 9:33 a.m. shuttlepilot Reader

    fiat22turbo wrote:

    Is it a tapered roller bearing? If so you may have to set the play manually.

    On the FWD cars I've set, I've set the tension manually by rotating the spindle and adjusting the nut. Basically, I spin it by hand quickly and tighten the nut until it slows noticeably then I back it off a quarter turn or so then spin again to make sure it feels right.

    It has tapered roller bearings, but the surfaces the bearing assembles onto is straight. You can removed play on the bearing surfaces, but not the axles surfaces without a high degree of toleranceing. The bentley manual for this VW is very specific on not over tightening. It goes by some weird you can move a washer with a screwdriver test. I got it as tight as it allows while still meeting this condition and it still has axle play.

    Is this a question for guys running this car in ITB?

 
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