Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 09:35:05 -0500
Reply-To: Derek Drew <derekdrew@RCN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Derek Drew <derekdrew@RCN.COM>
Subject: Re: 5 speed SA transmission issue
In-Reply-To: <67D74861.565AD46E.0004AB8A@netscape.net>
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<font size=3>South African vans generally or always (not sure which) use
so-called "Audi" 108mm joints in the back in contrast to the
100mm joints we have here in North America. <br><br>
Accordingly, it is common to say that South African Vanagons have
so-called 16" joints in the back and 14" joints in the front.
<br><br>
We used to think that in order to use a diff lock, one needed the
stronger 16" joints in the front because that is how the factory
specifies these joints in repair literature ("for vehicles with
front differential lock"). However, the fact that the South African
vans have diff locks in the front and also the weaker 14" inch
joints suggests that this is not the case, and that the matter is not
critical. <br><br>
I have a pile of 22 108mm OEM VW joints here but have not finished
inquiries into certain issues before putting any of them to use.
<br><br>
The 108mm joints do not fit on axles intended to hold 100mm joints.
<br><br>
The Audi 108mm joints are similar to the Porsch 930 108mm joints that are
commonly used in off-road non-vanagon vw circles but the 930 joints are
longer (thicker) than the 108mm vw oem audi joints. Both joints are
equally strong, but the 930 joints are stronger in a condition of extreme
plunge. You would get extreme plunge if you engineered your vehicle so
that the wheels could fall much further than they are in the OEM setup.
<br><br>
John Wessels (euromog@aol.com) or Weddle (info@2weddle.com) can set you
up with the 108mm 930 joints and axle setup if you like, and you will
have to change only your stub axle to bolt these in. Todd Francis has in
the past indicated some cautions about using the so-called sliding style
axle assemblies that go with these joints, however. Also, there is some
chatter that Tom Forhan brought to my attention about the 930 joints
being so heavy that they caused excessive wear in 091 transmissions
(which for the purposes of this discussion are essentially the
transmissions all of us use) but I have not investigated that topic yet.
Reportedly, Rancho is working on a fix for that.<br><br>
For these reasons, I have hesitated to put in 930 joints and sliding
style axle assemblies. <br><br>
Despite these cautions, several listers are using John Wessels setups and
there are no reported problems with these. Moreover, Wessels' engineering
skills at VW knowledge are top notch (probably among the top 5 people on
this list, which is saying a lot). Moreover, the sliding style axle
assemblies have achieved wide usage in VW circles and are not regarded as
radical modifications. Weddle lists these parts in their catalog.
<br><br>
You can easily and temporarily swap out the 108mm flanges on the
transmission for North American style 100mm flanges as a temporary
workaround and then install your North America axles.. Weddle could send
you the parts you need to do that. I could lend you the OEM flange
removing tool which makes the flange swap job idiot proof and easy and I
also have the parts required. The flange swap job can be done without
removing your transmission. Alternatively, the flange swap job is fairly
idiot proof, so you can probably hire almost any vw oriented shop -- even
one known to be unreliable -- to do the swap and it should come out OK.
<br><br>
At 07:58 PM 3/29/2003 -0500, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Well...<br>
Today I installed the SA 5 speed tramsmission into my Wolfy Vanagon. I
was excited. Just as I was finishing the job and reconnecting things I
realized the flanges for the CV joint were larger than those on my 4
speed. The bolts that hold the CV joints are larger as well. ... Bummer!
I was not expecting to deal with this! I read of other list members posts
who were using the S.A. 5 speed, but didn't notice any mention of this
issue.<br><br>
Are there larger CV joints that will fit on the Vanagon half shafts? Are
parts available to adapt the flanges?<br><br>
Any and all suggestions appreciated.<br><br>
Gary<br><br>
--<br>
Gary McEachern<br>
Reading, Ma<br>
'90 Westy Subavanagon<br>
'86 Wolfy Subavanagon<br>
'87 Syncro (Son's van)<br><br>
<br>
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</blockquote>
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_______________________________________________<br>
Derek Drew <br>
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