Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 21:40:34 -0400
Reply-To: Tom and Dana Cates <dcates1@HOME.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom and Dana Cates <dcates1@HOME.COM>
Subject: Re: Syncro Driveshaft Vibration
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You sound like you are right on track!
Take it to a GOOD driveshaft shop and they can literally make you one from
scratch, so replacing even welded in components is not a problem. One sign
of a GOOD shop is the presence of a driveshaft balancer, a $60,000 dollar
specialized machine. Having the machine doesn't provide the only indication
a GOOD shop, though - check around.
Also, if you ever disassemble the driveshaft, be sure to put it back
together with the U-Joints in correct phase.
I have never seen a Syncro dirveshaft. Can you describe the mechanical
configuration? Some of those type driveshafts have a double U-Joint at one
end or the other, and it is not unusual for that type of joint to wear out
at the ball socket inside the intermediate yoke. Also, on Exploder/Bronco's
the slip splines tend to wear out. (I used to know a guy that worked in a
GOOD driveshaft shop, and I used to read the tech manuals when I was bored
waiting on him, or watch the work - it was fascinating.)
Tom and Dana Cates
Asheville, NC
83 Air-Cooled Westfalia, 'Hammurabi'
www.fullmoonbusclub.com/
www.type2.com/rescue/
http://members.home.net/fullmooninjoon/index.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Rokus" <marokus@VOYAGER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 12:03 AM
Subject: Syncro Driveshaft Vibration
> Hi All,
>
> I think that I may have found the reason that some Syncro driveshafts
> vibrate while showing no apparent problems.
> While changing a U-joint on my '87 with a spare from an '86, I tried to
> change the end with the rubber damper out as an entire unit (with the
> U-joint still installed in the flanges). After removing the 4 allen
bolts,
> I was suprised to find that there is a shaft that extends into the shaft
> about 6". It has "O" rings and rides on bronze bearings and grease
inside
> the shaft. After studying the shaft that had previously vibrated, I
> noticed that the shaft had marks on it that indicated that it had worn out
> the inner bearing. I haven't heard about this feature before and suspect
> that it is the source of the shaking.
>
> Does anyone know if there is anyone that repairs these that understands
> them? I suspect that most shops will just change out the U-joint and then
> make excuses.
> Also, does anyone know of a source for the U-joint?
> thanks
> Mark Rokus
> '87 GL Syncro Westy
> '87 GL Syncro
> '86 Syncro (hanger Queen)
> '81 Westy Aircooled
> '82 Rabbit Diesel
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