There are two bearings and the drum with the nut help to hold the stub axle in place.  Check to make sure there's no vertical motion in the bearings and that it rotates freely.  There is a spacer so I'd push it back as far as it can with the stub at the flange pushing the opposite direction.

-----Original Message-----
From: vw1971
Sent: Jul 6, 2007 1:29 PM
To: tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tcb] Current Shape of things (Rear Brake Bleeding)

I tried to bleed the brakes and some fluid came out but it wouldn't continue flowing. I pulled the drum off and notice the right side of  the brake cylinder was wet ( leaking ) .(ah ha found the problem. I cleaned up the drum and pulled the shoes and replaced the brake cylinder ( I had a new one)  .. putting the brake drum back on I noticed that  I didn't have much room for the Axel nut after the drum was on, pulled off the drum and thought the Axel shaft was shorter than before... I pulled on the axle shaft, it moved out some. Also the trans axle moved too. (this can't be good, am I right?)

I notice something loose on the axle , its the spacer sleeve I think (looking at Bently page 60 Fig. 10-10 in Transmission and Rear axle) ,,,,, I pulled it out and can see ball bearings ... This again can;t be good......

Figuring out what I can do next......... It seems the spacer goes back in but has about an 1/8 of an inch sticking out.,... (something slipped to keep it from going on?) or do I just pound on it with a block of wood to get it back in?

Anyone got any ideas?

Trey