ShopTalk Forums | Aircooled VW Tech & Restoration Help

I decided to do a step by step installation of the bearings, seals and spacers.
Step 1. Clean everything up and see what you have to work with.
Step 2. Pack the bearings.
Now the fun begins. I searched quite a bit and think I have everything in order. I am unsure if the IRS uses these 2 pieces. A washer and a small o-ring see pic. The kit was bought years ago for a swing axle but from what I see everything is the same.




Here is a pic of the bearings, spacers, seals, and the snap ring.




OK first install the bearing with the balls in it on the inboard side of the bearing housing.













Next comes the snap ring.







Next is the inner seal note both inner and outer seals are the same.









Next is the bearing spacer.





Next install the outer bearing it is the roller bearing.






Next is the stub axle with the spacer the con-caved edge must face the CV joint.








Next is the outer spacer the seal rides on. The con-cave edge goes towards the bearing. I looked at it both ways and the spacer binds on the bearing if you install it wrong. Which leads me to a lot of threads I have read about spacers breaking this being the cause.






Next install the backing plate or disc brake caliper bracket, and the large o-ring.






Then next is the paper gasket.



OK this is where I am unsure if the washer and small o-ring are used. I buttoned it up to keep dirt out.

That large O-ring is for swingaxle only. The paper gasket is only for very early swingaxle (and RGB bus) applications that don't use the O-ring.
The correct O-ring for IRS is 113 501 291B, much thinner:


...the good news is that it really isn't all that necessary, grease doesn't usually leak out much without it. If you've got everything bolted together it's probably OK the way you've got it, although the thick O-ring will be smooshed out. Did the cover bolts feel like they torqued up snugly?

david58 wrote:...I am unsure if the IRS uses these 2 pieces. A washer and a small o-ring...

Nope.

Marc wrote:That large O-ring is for swingaxle only. The paper gasket is only for very early swingaxle (and RGB bus) applications that don't use the O-ring.
The correct O-ring for IRS is 113 501 291B, much thinner:


...the good news is that it really isn't all that necessary, grease doesn't usually leak out much without it. If you've got everything bolted together it's probably OK the way you've got it, although the thick O-ring will be smooshed out. Did the cover bolts feel like they torqued up snugly?

david58 wrote:...I am unsure if the IRS uses these 2 pieces. A washer and a small o-ring...

Nope.

OK so I have the wrong large o-ring and don't need the washer and small o-ring.
P.S. Hey Lew looks like we both need to take ours back apart.

Thanks for the correct info Marc