Date:         Sat, 10 Sep 2005 02:08:16 EDT
Reply-To:     THX0001@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         George Goff <THX0001@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Accessing Rear Brake Lines above Syncro Transmission
Comments: To: ccc1@VOLNY.CZ
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 9/9/05 10:49:23 PM, ccc1@VOLNY.CZ writes:

<< Unbolt rear of driveshaft (mark it first).
Unbolt engine mount crossbar, lower very slightly with floor jack.
Support transmission with 2nd floor jack, remove two large mounting
bolts, lower as much as possible.  Leave halfshafts attached if
possible. Re-assemble in reverse

Is this plan of attack feasable?  Any warnings or suggestions?
Thanks in advance! >>

I have not had to replace the rear brake lines on a Syncro, yet, but I've
dropped their trannies.  What I would do is . . .

1/ Undo the driveshaft.

2/ Snatch the forward engine case lifting lug and hang it from a beam across
the engine bay by means of a very long eyebolt (load-rated) through the beam
held by a nut.  Then undo the transaxle mount and lower the forward end of the
engine slightly by unthreading the eyebolt nut.  For every inch the forward
end of the engine is lowered, the nose of the transaxle will drop more than two
inches.

I would NOT undo the engine mount crossmember because the engine mounts are
resilient enough to lower the PTO end of the transaxle a few inches without
damaging them.  Depending on how much the transaxle has to be dropped, the axles
might have to be undone, which is no big deal if done at the transaxle flanges.

I think this is an easier and more certain approached than balancing the
engine/tranaxle on two floor jacks, plus there are no floor jacks to inhibit your
free movement while under the van.

George