Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (January 2006, week 4)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Sat, 28 Jan 2006 12:43:10 -0500
Reply-To:     Geza Polony <gezapolony@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Geza Polony <gezapolony@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: 2wd transmission noise question

I'm not an expert on these--few are--but I'm just in the process of having my own 1984 4-speed rebuilt, and I had a chance to get into the shop and talk with the mechanics doing the rebuild.

The fact is, there are a lot of things that could cause your symptoms. The experts that are working on mine first drove the van and thought my grinding sound was caused by worn synchro rings, then opened up the case and found all kinds of problems with sliders, tabs broken off, worn 4th gear, marginal 3-4 hub, and tolerances too bad to even re-use the case. Conclusion: you can't really diagnose transaxle symptoms without going inside to look. Anything else is just a guess, educated or not.

If you're interested in getting the work done, I'd suggest finding a local rebuilder rather than ordering a tranny online. Reason: there are all kinds of ways to cut corners in doing a "rebuild," and definitions vary from state to state. If, for example, they don't replace the main bearings during the rebuild, but only try to reseat them (this is typical of an online rebuild) you may end up with transmission noise that goes on for the life of the tranny. You can also get away with leaving marginal ring and pinion gears--and others--that may fail withing a few thousand miles. That's why I wanted to see with mine own eyes what was going on.

In terms of price, mine is costing around $1,400 because the case and a bunch of other stuff was no good. Add $300 for the removal/installation. Bummer, man.

I hope yours isn't so bad.

Geza


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.