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Date:         Mon, 13 Jun 2005 12:31:59 -0700
Reply-To:     Doug in Calif <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Doug in Calif <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Subject:      Re: Synchro to 2wd
Comments: To: MilosKitchen <sagmoore@ZOOMINTERNET.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1250"

The customer said the van went like a bat, comparatively.

This is why I have ALWAYS felt the Syncro SHOULD have been designed with a decoupler and locking / unlocking front hubs to allow the entire front drive line to remain STATIC until it is really needed. What a huge waste in fuel, tires, performance, wear and tear on expensive parts. If you had to get out of your rig (buzz kill I know) to lock or unlock your front hubs it would be a small price to pay for all the advantages.

If anybody ever develops a kit to convert the syncro over to free wheel / locking front hubs please let me know I would pay a thousand ($1000) bucks for a properly engineered kit to do this, mainly because after having several jeeps and scouts it would remind me of those 4WD days long ago every time I get out to "lock or unlock em')

Doug

----- Original Message ----- From: "MilosKitchen" <sagmoore@ZOOMINTERNET.NET> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 3:23 AM Subject: Re: Synchro to 2wd

> Not speaking from personal experience but, many years ago I used to frequent > a small VW repair shop south of Pittsburgh. Cheapness (or is that > frugality?) knows no bounds. One of their customers did not want to renew > the front CV's on his Syncro. The solution was to remove the front axles and > disassemble the outer CV's. They then reinstalled just the outer CV "cup" > and axle spindles, thereby keeping the wheel bearing preload. The customer > said the van went like a bat, comparatively. > > I'm not suggesting it, merely saying it has been done. > > Dave > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of > Karin Baker & Raymond Paquette > Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 12:44 AM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Synchro to 2wd > > Hey > > I'm considering removing the driveshaft and front axles from my Synchro in > preparation for a long road trip. I'm traveling with my parent-in-laws, so > I know we won't be going offroad, so no need for the 4wheel drive. The > front CV's are klacking, so I'll be taking them out to replace, and it > occurs to me to remove the driveshaft, and not put things back together > until after we return. > > I'm hoping for: better gas mileage, more useable power, as well as saving > the wear and tear on the front drive parts. > > Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm especially concerned about > damaging something by running my Synchro this way. Can't imagine that it > would, but sometimes my imagination is limited. > > Thanks > > Raymond > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.6.2 - Release Date: 6/4/2005 > > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.6.2 - Release Date: 6/4/2005


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