Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2018 12:49:12 -0700
Reply-To: vw_van_fan_Mark <madvws@COX.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: vw_van_fan_Mark <madvws@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Short c.v. Axles ?
In-Reply-To: <Bs0E1y01908X5Fr01s0FNY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Few know this but early vans like 82 used longer axles. The difference
isn't great but real. This is documented in VW parts books and some
aftermarket brands sell both lengths while other sources sell only the
shorter ones for use in all years.
The reason the length changed was that the tranny/engine position
changed. To make room for the engine fan on the end of the crankshaft
the engine and tranny is slightly more forward in the body. The axles in
these models are at more of an angle front/rear. Then 83+ watercooled
vans moved the engine/tranny back to make room for the longer 5 speed
tranny that became available in watercooled models that year.
Early axles were slightly longer, whether manual or auto.
Later axles are slightly shorter than their early counterparts.
Mark
Vincent Dow wrote:
> Hello rollers,
>
> I finally got *Modesto* into a garage here in greater Montreal to
> repack/replace three torn CV boots.
>
> I discovered the boots were shot on my drive from Los Angeles to Montreal
> back in late April.
>
> The Joints and boots were sold to me by my vw mechanic here in Quebec -
> just under two years ago. Needless to say I was disappointed with that
> performance (paid $650 Canadian + tax = not cheap)
>
> So a week ago I brought him my replacement Rockford boots from T3 - and we
> talked about different quality cv boots etc. I wanted a break from those
> guys on the replacement because the ones he sold me didn’t last. But he
> wouldn’t hear about it.
>
> (I reluctantly agreed to pay them three hours for the reinstall)
>
> As his guy was bolting the repacked CV axles on, he cussed and hissed that
> the boots were too short - making it almost impossible for him to get the
> inside bolts started in the threads. He was glaring at me, as if I’d
> brought the problem into their shop with the Rockford 40mm boots.
> He finally got a couple bolts in and was able to pull the whole thing into
> place with the pressure of torquing...
>
> Then this thought occurred to me: is it possible the axles themselves are
> too short? Those axles are the rebuilt replacements he sold me - not my
> originals.
>
> Alternatively: is it possible the wrench-man installed (clipped) the small
> end of the boot too far down the axle from the bolt-end ? ) causing the
> boots to be under extreme tension? And probably fail within six months?
>
> BTW the van is an 1982 aircooled with DK transmission.
>
> I’ve heard that automatic vanagon cannot use manual-trans axles (and vice
> versa)
>
> Are there more than one (length) of manual cv axles our there?
> Could it be my previous cv boots also tore because they were being pulled
> apart rather than resting in a relaxed wAy?
>
> I wish I had my old axles back suddenly!
> Tough summer for the van.
>