Damaged stub axle and hub splines
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2021 1:16 pm
Howdy, daily driving 1980 westy. Changed rear wheel bearings about 2 years/40,000KMS (KILOMETERS... IM CANADIAN :P). Rear hub was removed and new bearings installed on bench. Axle nut was torqued properly, to 360#s on clean lubed threads while chassis was in air and no weight on axle. Havent had any issues since install.
Rear wheel was making some noises. Thought it may have been a wheel bearing failure. Jacked up rear and had large play like a failed bearing. Remove hub cap and see this: https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/kTzW4KGkhp6j The hub is wiggling on the axle, close inspection actually shows the axle nut has impressed its corners into the edge of the hub face.
Removed brake backing plate and wheel hub and find stub axle teeth and hub splines quite worn. Stub axle has no movement so bearings appear fine. It was just the hub wiggling on the axle. The axle nut had not moved and the cotter pin was still in place.
So my question is, what would have caused this to happen. Im going to be installing new (used) axle and hub but want to fix whatever would have caused this. Is it expected to wear over 600,000 kms of its life? Or was there a direct cause for this? I would assume if a bearing was blown, spacer was missing or axle nut backed off, it would allow for enough play to cause movement on the splines leading to wear but this started off nice and tight, hasnt had the axle nut back off and took 40,000 kms to present itself. Thoughts? Im a self taught (we'll, Itinerant air cooled/samba/youtube university) VW mechanic so if I am possibly missing something else, love to hear the opinions too.
Rear wheel was making some noises. Thought it may have been a wheel bearing failure. Jacked up rear and had large play like a failed bearing. Remove hub cap and see this: https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/kTzW4KGkhp6j The hub is wiggling on the axle, close inspection actually shows the axle nut has impressed its corners into the edge of the hub face.
Removed brake backing plate and wheel hub and find stub axle teeth and hub splines quite worn. Stub axle has no movement so bearings appear fine. It was just the hub wiggling on the axle. The axle nut had not moved and the cotter pin was still in place.
So my question is, what would have caused this to happen. Im going to be installing new (used) axle and hub but want to fix whatever would have caused this. Is it expected to wear over 600,000 kms of its life? Or was there a direct cause for this? I would assume if a bearing was blown, spacer was missing or axle nut backed off, it would allow for enough play to cause movement on the splines leading to wear but this started off nice and tight, hasnt had the axle nut back off and took 40,000 kms to present itself. Thoughts? Im a self taught (we'll, Itinerant air cooled/samba/youtube university) VW mechanic so if I am possibly missing something else, love to hear the opinions too.