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Date:         Mon, 16 May 2005 07:54:14 EDT
Reply-To:     THX0001@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         George Goff <THX0001@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Need Viscous Coupling Refresher Course - '91 Syncro
Comments: To: vanagonteepee@GMAIL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 5/15/05 9:16:28 PM, vanagonteepee@GMAIL.COM writes:

<< What ARE situations where locking the differential makes a big difference.? >>

Whenever the van is stuck with a front wheel and a rear spinning like crazy. Try driving on a slick road with the ass-end locked and the van will be all over the place.

The best way to proof out a VC would be on a 4-wheel dynometer, if you can find a shop with one. There is a low tech VC test procedure floating around somewhere in the electronic ether; asking about it on the Yahoo Syncro group should provide you with more than you want to know. There is also a spec for the torque required to rotate the front wheel which is supposed to gauge the condition of the VC.

A quick check to see if the VC is locking up at all is to stop the van on a slight grade then back over a half dozen layers of polyethylene under the rear wheels. While heeling and toeing, ease out the clutch to determine if the front is engaging enough to move the van.

Unfortunately, the problem with the Vanagon drivetrain is usually that a failing VC becomes too aggressive; an aggressive VC ends up trashing the front CV's and the transaxle. Bad, bad design - a consumable, easily replaced part which takes no prisoners whenever it queefs out. It's sorta like the mafioso who rolls over on all his minions whenever he goes down.

George


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