Date:         Sun, 18 Aug 2002 13:38:26 -0500
Reply-To:     All of Us <weber@OWC.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         All of Us <weber@OWC.NET>
Subject:      Please Help! 4-Speed Transmission problem
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Volks:

I have a problem with the 4-speed manual transmission on "Miss Blue" my '87 GL Weekender. I noticed that the inboard CV joint on the passenger side was beginning to weep oil out the end of the boot. I thought that the grease may have sheared and thinned out but when I removed the half shaft to service the CV's I was greeted twith a flood of gear lube from the inside of the inner CV joint. Closer inspection revealed that the cap in the center of the drive hub/flange (?) is leaking and allowing gear lube from the differential to enter the CV joint from the transmission.

I have not disassembled the inner CV yet to inspect it for wear/damage, but I don't see much point in reinstalling the half shaft until this leak is fixed. It seems to me that the gear lube will just wash the grease out of my CV again in short order and I will be right back where I am now.

Can I fix this problem by just replacing the cap or is this a sign of a bigger problem that needs to be addressed lurking deeper inside the transmission? If I can just replace the cap, how would I go about removing the cap that is on there now? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dan Weber
"Miss Blue" - "87 GL Weekender