Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 14:05:17 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 930 drive axles
In-Reply-To: <C178BF82-DB9D-4A95-867A-9F5EBDA914B4@gmail.com>
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I have seen a number of differential output shafts break. All had some level
of modifications done to van. Everything from solid shafts in place of the
viscous coupling to locking differentials, oversized tires, big engines etc.
If you are lifting the van beyond the stock limits of the suspension travel
then different CV joints may be required. Spacers on the joint may also do
the job. Depends on how much lift.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Robert Stevens
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 11:24 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 930 drive axles
On Aug 16, 2013, at 6:56 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
You are so right. I'll take a broken axle or CV joint any day.
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM<mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Subject: Re: 930 drive axles
You do know when you put those on your transmission you just end up
breaking something more expensive inside .
I've seen things broken worse than just a busted CV .
So far, none of this has been part of my experience. What has been fact and
true is that the axles have allowed me to have a van that has lift that OE
axles would not allow, and that has allowed me to drive on roads, in
conditions that require the clearance my van now has.
My opinion, based on my own experiences and that of observing many others
out in the real world, is that HOW people drive is THE factor that makes the
difference between breaking things vs not breaking things. So, at least in
my case, it's not about the axles/CV's being so much more robust, as their
design allows for van lift/axles angles that then allow me to drive in
conditions I could not otherwise.
My experience ALSO says that it is not offroading with either 944 or 930
axles that seems to have bearing on wear, as drivng at highways speeds, over
long periods of time, that create heat in the transaxle that makes the case
maleable enough that the bearings begin to move laterally in the case,
violating fine tolerances and wearing out transaxles "before their time". VW
found this to be true (according to documents they wrote in the late 40's,
ealry 50's and found by some of us "volks" whom were allowd into the VW
archives), and thus the VW engineers were working on solutions for that.
Which has been developed in Europe, which is an aluminum case.
It is engine power that creates that capability to cruise at above 70 MPH
for hours on end that creates this heat condition, not axles. The
development of improved lubes has ameliarated this to some extent, but the
recent flush of adding transaxle coolers and/or pumps that dump lube over
3rd/4th gear in the case that seems to have helped most.
bob
'87 Syncro Westy....not a 2WD automatic w/2.1
