My bug manual does not cover bus transaxles.  Does the part that I have an arrow pointing to, come off by itself?  How difficult is it to remove?  Special tools?  will it flip around and work?  If you look at it, it has a marred surface at the point where the seal touches it.  It is eating seals.  Will I be able to pull this off and turn it around so I have the unmarred surface making contact with the seal.  I've never had one of these give me problems before.  Anyone have any similar experience?  Any help is greatly appreciated.

Hey Nick, Yes they do come off but they can be troublesome sometimes. I've had to heat them with a torch when they are reeally bad. If you can get it started by driving a thin blade such as a gasket scraper in between the bearing and the spacer it should come right off, but, sometimes you'll need a bearing plate and puller. You could also try putting the big nut back on the axle and tapping the axle inwards (big hammer, LIGHT taps) and see if that frees it up. Unfortunately it's a non servicable item, it will have to be replaced. Once you get it off you'll see it has a big taper on the inside diameter so you can't flip them around.

You done good though, you got the drum off , I had an early bus I had to cut the axle tube and axle off with the reduction box becasue the drum was so seized on. I tried cutting the drum for half a day but could never get it hot enough with the bigest torch head we had at the shop and almost killed the compressor and a box of cut off disks trying to do it that way.

That rubber o ring should actually be behind the spacer, that is what the taper is for. If left there the drum will just crush it. Where it is, oil will leak from under the o-ring through the splines

brad

Brad, thanks so much for your help.  I was sweating it.  This is the first time I've gotten this deep in a bus swing axle.  I drove a 65 bus back in the 70's.  It got me through my starving college days.  Now I have time and enough funds to enjoy owning a dune buggy.  I don't know where I can find a replacement for this part.  Can you point me in the right direction?  I called my local VW dealer about parts and the guy laughed and said no...  What did he find was so funny?  I've got to make this old ride reliable without replacing the entire transaxle.

Brad, I can't thank you enough for your help.  I owe you a beer or beverage of your choice.  Thanks man, I'm going to order those today.

No problem, always glad to help.

brad