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Date:         Mon, 24 May 2010 03:35:44 -0400
Reply-To:     Bill Glenn <idahobill@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Glenn <idahobill@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: syncro prop shaft alignment

On Sun, 23 May 2010 19:18:22 -0600, Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM> wrote: Bob, You have the methodology right, but Warren credited Peter at Van Cafe. To my knowledge, GoWesty has never promoted so simple a remedy, but instead markets their laser alignment tool.

I agree with you that this procedure could likely correct a lateral misalignment and the vibration relating thereto, but not a misalignment in the vertical plane because after tightening the bolts on the front differential the down-angle, front-to-rear, of the front differential will be the same as it was before this procedure; only the introduction of shims can change the angle.

One has to wonder though, what the respective front diff/transaxle down- angles were when the syncros left the factory in Graz, and what the tolerance was for the angles being different. Has anyone ever seen shims on a syncro front differential that appeared never to have been removed?

Bill in Idaho

>You may or may not have seen this on the Syncro list but ..... >back when Warren was alive, he was puzzling over how to find a sweet >spot for his p-shaft to eliminate the vibes. He called Go Westy, thinking >that since they seemed to produce such expensive gems of the Syncro >iteration, that they would likely have a method for perfecting this. > >They did/do: loosen the frame-to-differential bolts, drive around for a few >days and maybe 30-50 miles, or until the vibration is gone, tighten those >bolts and voila! > >Warren did it and said it worked. I have no experience with it. What you >say seems to be true, that the transaxle should be very close to 4 degrees >down. The differential will "adjust" itself given this opportunity. My only >puzzlement about this method is that it has no possible way to adjust up/ >down as that requires spacers, usually at the front (van front) of the diff. >mount points to point it more up or down. > >I do know that the prop shaft I have only needs the transaxle to be pointed >down "between .8" to 1.2" for it to be vibration-free, which mine is. Even >after just finishing putting a Subaru 3.0 in the van, with a "high-mount" >installation, which provides about 2+" more ground clearance, so the >tranny is pointing down more than stock. > >Bob Stevens >'87 Syncro Westy > >On Sun, May 23, 2010 at 6:05 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote: > >> had time to test my Mk II laser pointer alignment tool thingy today. >> It is to be used to determine the alignment of the front diff and >> rear transmission in my syncro (which still has minor vibes around 60 >> kph) >> >>


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