81 rabbit pickup - rear brake drums issue - different

[ReubenG]

so replacing my rear drum brakes this weekend, and turns out I have 2 different drums. Passenger = no lip on inner side with hard metal inner grease / wheel seal. Driver = lip on inner side with hard black rubber inner grease / wheel seal.  And I have new seals, but they will not fit the Drivers side, the seal is too big. (I wish I had not removed the inner bearings or seal at all!) So I've been searching for a different/correct seal, and/or a new drum... this is crazy. Anyone know much about these drums? I know they're supposedly 200mm ALL the pickups.

[burn_your_money]

Are both your drums 200mm?

[ReubenG]

I didn't measure, but they're identical in size. I meant to write down the part numbers etched in them this morning before work, but I forgot.

[srgtlord]

From memory if I do recall , the pickups used a different version of the 200mm drums than what was supplied on the later golfs/jettas. I wonder if someone swapped the later style drum on  one side

[ReubenG]

I'm thinking something like that must have happened, that's good to know. Question: Do you need a press or other tool to install the rear wheel bearing races, inner and outer?

[srgtlord]

You dont need a press, but Im sure it would make life easier. I took the cheaper route of using a piece of brass to tap the new races in. The brass is much softer than the hardened steel and does no damage to the races. Instead it just flakes off. Just be sure to clean up the flakes when you are done before you install the bearings.

[TylerDurden]

I have a front bearing tool from a few years back... cost me near 200 bux, IIRC. I use it to install rear races too. Before I used the tool, I'd tap them in with a hammer.

Now, I think you can find decent enough front bearing tools at the cheapo tool stores. They can also be used to install the rear races.
e.g. http://www.harborfreight.com/fwd-front-wheel-bearing-adapters-66829.html

Your local parts stores may also have loaner tools that are okay.

[ReubenG]

turns out the issue was that someone had jammed an odd racer and/or extra grease seal in there, but I was able to use a screw driver and tap it out. Then my NAPA grease/wheel seal fit easily.