Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:49:31 -0700
Reply-To: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Manual Transmission Leaking at CV Joint
In-Reply-To: <671458.54820.qm@web83606.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I think its really crass of you to characterize their observations the way
you have.
The shop has a responsibility to let you know of potential concerns
especially when they might involve a complete failure of your power steering
or your cooling system.
If they hadn't said anything about those issues and your steering or
radiator let go and you lost your engine or crashed, you'd be bad-mouthing
them for being unobservant.
You owe the tradesmen on this List (ie the guys who give you all that free
advice!) an apology.
Jake
On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 11:18 AM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>wrote:
> Took van in this morning, just got a call back. They said there is "some"
> play in the drive shaft; if I just replace the seals (a seal kit, am
> assuming it replaces seals, o-ring, and cap) they won't guarantee that it
> won't leak. Rebuilding the transmission would be next option. No. I'm
> going to take the $250 gamble and just do the seal kit. (I'm aware of the
> 3rd/4th Slider Hub problem; my driving style is as gentle and silky smooth
> in shifting as possible, plus most of the miles are long distance freeway
> where it might be hours between shifts, so I think I've got good life left
> in the tranny. Maybe when it's time for a new engine or conversion, but
> that's still 25,000 miles away, maybe more.)
>
> They also "looked" around. Said power steering rack was leaking, parts and
> labor is $750. Now, I am aware of this TINY weep of a leak, from that
> little cover with 2 hex bolts about in the middle (I took it off, cleaned
> and polished things up, no gasket that I could see, put back together, and
> GREATLY reduced the already tiny weep). Ends of the rack and everywhere
> else is bone dry. So to just "matter of factly" recommend a fairly
> expensive and in my view unnecessary replacement of the ENTIRE rack starts
> to make me suspicious of my mechanic's motives...of course he'd like to get
> the tranny re-build job too and a bundle of cash.
>
> They also noticed a bit of crusty fluid on the side of the front radiator;
> says not leaking now, but might. Could that just be where I did the
> bleeding, ran down the side and the stuff dried into crystals? Anyway,
> times must be hard at the mechanics shop, too, but I'm feeling a little like
> they are trying to take advantage of an uninformed Vanagon owner. 'Course,
> little do they know that I've got The Vanagon List in my arsenal of tricks!
> So while I agree with GoWesty, for instance, that a redo of the cooling
> system should probably go along with an expensive new engine, I'm going to
> watch and wait on that one, too.
>
> I'm definitely a proponent of keeping ahead of the game on the vehicle, and
> would rather do repairs here in town than a couple thousand miles away, for
> all the obvious reasons. Still, don't want to throw money away on "biased"
> recommendations for repairs. The total of their recommendations is probably
> approaching $3K....I think I'll be fine (for now) at a tenth of that.
>
> Rich
> San Diego
>
>
> --- On Wed, 9/22/10, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: Manual Transmission Leaking at CV Joint
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 4:54 PM
>
> Called mechanic. He agrees that it's probably the seal at the drive flange
> on transmission. He did mention that either the seal is just plain worn
> out, or that excessive play in the drive shaft is causing the seal to wear
> out, in which case the new seal will quickly become worn, too and the
> problem is more serious. He will drop the CV Joint down with tranny in
> place, and see what's going on; let's hope it's just a worn seal. Boots are
> definitely good all around, as are CV joints. Taking it in first thing
> tomorrow morning. Should I be proactive and replace both sides while I'm at
> it (if it's just the seals)? Or leave well enough alone?
>
> Rich
> San Diego
>
> --- On Wed, 9/22/10, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> From: Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca>
> Subject: Re: Manual Transmission Leaking at CV Joint
> To: "Richard Koerner" <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
> Cc: "vanagon vanagon" <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2010, 4:30 PM
>
> probably the dished plastic seal on drive flange on trans. Simple and
> inexpensive fix if that's the problem (trans in place)
>
> alistair
>
>
> On 22-Sep-10, at 3:28 PM, Richard Koerner wrote:
>
> Just got back from a 4,500 mile roadtrip without incident. However, when
> parked in the garage, I noticed a leak on the concrete floor. Looked up
> there....definitely leaking from the interface between inner CV Joint and 4
> speed manual transmission. Wiped the floor clean, and next day a new spot
> (about 4 inches in diameter) reappears WITHOUT having started engine or
> moving vehicle. So not good news.....
>
> I
> recently (about 6,000 miles ago) new Axles (Lobro CV Joints, rebuilt by
> GoWesty) on both sides. I did add CV grease to the exterior of the new
> joints; they were wiped clean for shipping and GoWesty concurred that they
> needed additional CV grease. I used 1 tube for all 4 joints when I did the
> installation. Did I overdo it and blow out a seal of some kind? Or just
> coincidence?
>
> I had previously (about 30,000 miles ago) replaced the original gear oil
> with Redline MT-90 per List wisdom. Car and motor and transmission all have
> now 186,000 of gentle freeway miles mostly. Everything shifts, runs, sounds
> normal.
>
> So, before I head to the mechanic, I wanted to get some advice....what is
> the probable problem, and what is the probable fix? Can it be done with
> transmission in place and still connected to engine? Any idea of what this
> might cost?
>
> Rich
> San
> Diego
>
--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX 'The Grey Van'
1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Suby 'Dixie'
Crescent Beach, BC
www.thebassspa.com
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
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