Date:         Mon, 26 May 2014 12:54:49 -0400
Reply-To:     "kimbrennan@mac.com" <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "kimbrennan@mac.com" <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Rear axle replacement advice
Comments: To: Geneva Saint-Amour <genevasaintamour@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY179-W547353174EA8C3F4D8A3C9D43B0@phx.gbl>
Content-type: text/plain; CHARSET=US-ASCII

The most important thing to know is...do you have an automatic transmission, or a manual. On the manual the axles shafts are the same length. On the automatic, they aren't and are not interchangable with the manual.

Can you do it yourself? Probably. In addition to the advice given, I would add a torque wrench to properly tighten the bolts, and Goop or some other GOOD hand cleaner, as CV Joint grease is the worst. I broke one of mine, and it turns out the otherside had bad boots, so my CVs were bone dry. I bought 2 complete kits from GoWesty. Did the first axle on Saturday ( took 7 hours under less than ideal conditions... Like being  1 mile from the house working in the driveway.)

About to start the 2nd here in a few minutes. I expect this one to go a lot faster.)

Sent from my iPad

> On May 25, 2014, at 11:57 PM, Geneva Saint-Amour <genevasaintamour@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> Today we broke the drivers side, rear axle.  We have several questions that we hope someone can assist with. (1985 Westfalia, Bostig with AW high top)1. Can we replace this ourselves (yes, mechanically handy and have general tools)?2. Should we replace both or anything else while we are in there?3. Where should we purchase a new one from?4. Details, tips, secret handshakes?Thanks,Geneva and Mike(Prescott, AZ)