Wheel bearing dust caps

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Brad Ripley
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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#16 Post by Brad Ripley »

Lars, let us know how those VW caps work out.

Illustration below should illustrate the early rubber cap and the shape of the metal grease cap common Pre-A thru B.
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Grease cap detail 2.jpg

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Gerry McCarthy
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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#17 Post by Gerry McCarthy »

I believe the rubber cover was used on the left wheel only, T2's. Purpose, to seal water out of wheel bearings.
Gerry Mc

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Jim Alton
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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#18 Post by Jim Alton »

Gerry McCarthy wrote:I believe the rubber cover was used on the left wheel only, T2's. Purpose, to seal water out of wheel bearings.
The 356A parts catalog says there are two 356.41.427 "Rubber cap for grease caps" per car.

By the way, PET doesn't show the metal caps but the hardcopy 356A parts catalog lists:
  • 356.41.453 "Grease cap - front wheel, left"
    356.41.454 "Grease cap - front wheel, right"
Those don't look like VW parts numbers.
 
Jim Alton
Los Angeles County, CA
1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet
1965 Porsche 911 Coupé
1966 Volkswagen Type 2
2003 Porsche 986 Boxster

David Langone
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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#19 Post by David Langone »

Hello, I am trying to get the caps off my 62 356B on the front. The left front has a pin in it and the right does not. Should I buy a pair of large vice grips and pull from the center out to remove? (trying to unlock all the wheels on this project) - thank you

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Vic Skirmants
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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#20 Post by Vic Skirmants »

The "pin" is a cotter pin holding the end of the speedo cable; remove it first.
I generally use a large pair of Channellock pliers across the diameter and pry that way.

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Jim Alton
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Re: Wheel bearing dust caps

#21 Post by Jim Alton »

David Langone wrote:Hello, I am trying to get the caps off my 62 356B on the front. The left front has a pin in it and the right does not. Should I buy a pair of large vice grips and pull from the center out to remove? (trying to unlock all the wheels on this project) - thank you
No.

I believe the "pin" in your left front is most likely the speedometer cable. Remove the cotter pin (PET says it's 900.021.006.00 roll pin 2 x 10 but cotter pins work).

If Vic says it's OK to use Channellocks, it's OK.

The other method is to put a 3/8" socket extension bar or the shaft of a BIG screwdriver across the groove at the base of the grease cap and tap it with a hammer, rotating the wheel. The factory shop manual actually shows a really big door stop instead of a rod.
 
Jim Alton
Los Angeles County, CA
1958 Porsche 356A Cabriolet
1965 Porsche 911 Coupé
1966 Volkswagen Type 2
2003 Porsche 986 Boxster

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