Wheel bearing dust caps

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Lars Nielsen
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Wheel bearing dust caps

#1 Post by Lars Nielsen »

Where do you find some new dust caps for the B front wheeler bearings, left(with hole) and right without?

My parts catalogue only list these items, so nothing for 356B.

356.41.427 - Rubber dust cab for 356 and 356A
914.341.684.00 - Metal dust cap no hole for 356C

Where the B type originally steel, or rubber like the ealier A type?
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1961 356 T5 Coupe

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Vic Skirmants
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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#2 Post by Vic Skirmants »

It's a VW cap; that's why the part number is not listed. Yes, it's steel. Porsche added the rubber cap, so it has a Porsche number.
Item #8 is the metal dust cap; don't know why it's called the rubber cap. The rubber cap is not shown in that illustration.
Brad; can you enlighten us?

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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#3 Post by Lars Nielsen »

Oh, OK thanks. So the rubber cap is added as a cover on the steel cap?
So, does the rubber "A" cap also fit "B" cars...?

Anyone who knows the details, please shim in, pictures would be great.
1961 356 T5 Coupe

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Vic Skirmants
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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#4 Post by Vic Skirmants »

I don't think the rubber cap fits the B drums well.

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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#5 Post by Dick Weiss »

I don't have a B brake drum to check if it has the rib on its hub like the A brake drum to fit the rubber cap.
Both drums use the steel cap which fits inside the hub vs. the steel cap for the C hub fits outside the hub & no rubber cap.
I'll recheck this when a B cab will be coming in for some detailing for an up-coming concours event soon.

Dick

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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#6 Post by Jim Alton »

I thought the rubber cap was "correct" only for the 356 pre-A and 356A. The Stoddards write-up for NLA-41-427 Rubber cap for Pre-A thru 356A front brake drum confirms that.

The downloadable parts catalog gives a pert number (E) 356 41 453 for the 356B's metal cap. I don't know a source.
 
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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#7 Post by Brad Ripley »

See previous postings about the grease caps. viewtopic.php?f=13&t=38570&hilit=grease+cap

Apparently, everyone agrees those caps are a VW part. I still don't think so. Any further ideas?

As for the rubber cap over the metal cap on 356A cars, darned if I know why they did that.

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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#8 Post by Vic Skirmants »

"everyone agrees those caps are a VW part. I still don't think so" Brad.

Then why are they stamped "VW"?
I'm guessing Porsche added the rubber cap to avoid any possibility of grease leakage, and to water-proof the speedo cable hole.
They obviously decided it wasn't really needed by 1960.

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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#9 Post by C J Murray »

Brad Ripley wrote:As for the rubber cap over the metal cap on 356A cars, darned if I know why they did that.
Somebody's uncle owned a rubber factory? :shock:

I can't remember the details exactly...I wanted new steel caps for my outlaw but couldn't find the correct shaped caps for the left side with a square hole. I think I ended up with VW caps? They are not the same shape as Porsche caps but they work fine and don't get damaged coming on and off as they are very stout.
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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#10 Post by Norm Miller »

OK guys.
The A drum has a groove for the rubber cup.
The B drum does not.
VW caps are female, and fit over the drum.
Porsche caps are male, and fit into the drum.
50 -52 used VW drums and may have used Porsche style caps thus the VW stamp.
I'll check an early VW drum and report back.
Black paint was owner applied.

Norm
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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#11 Post by Norm Miller »

No damage will occur if you use a 3/8 drive extension perpendicular to the cap, between the cap and drum and strike it with a hammer.
If you leave the speedo cable attached you can pull the cable out slightly for slack which will assist in reinstalling.

Pliers are for plumbers!

Norm
 

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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#12 Post by C J Murray »

Norm Miller wrote:VW caps are female, and fit over the drum.
Almost true...'49-'65 were male, '66 on were female. I bought this for the left side...
http://vwparts.aircooled.net/Wheel-Bear ... 05-691.htm
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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#13 Post by Brad Ripley »

Vic, true there is a VW logo inside the Porsche versions. But I've never found a VW one that was the same as the Porsche.

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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#14 Post by Dick Weiss »

I checked the Cab's 'B' brake deum hub and the cap fits into the hub; the hub doesn't have a rib for a rubber cuff like the 'A's.

Dick

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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#15 Post by Lars Nielsen »

I found a new L and R cap, thru a VW classic parts dealer.
1961 356 T5 Coupe

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