Date: Thu, 5 Dec 2019 21:06:18 -0500
Reply-To: Jack R <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jack R <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: CV axle help for early m/t Vanagon?
In-Reply-To: <CACARJKrYaB5a6fycLyg6nWUjSRbrTAFAbfoCczQQ82C-hhsz+Q@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
The GKN's hold up best, they are OEM, and will last another 30 years!
Complete assembly, with lifetime warranty.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/vw-axle-shaft-assembly-gkn-251501203gx
I have a set of cheap, China axles, still in the box, brand new.
I elected to go the route of GKN's, which I replaced last winter.
You can have my China axles for the cost of shipping!
Jack R.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Alex MeVay
Sent: Thursday, December 5, 2019 12:39 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Fwd: CV axle help for early m/t Vanagon?
Hi Team,
Do any of you have any leads on quality replacement 548mm/21.56" CV
shafts or axles, as used in early (1980-82 2wd) Vanagons with 4sp
manual transmissions?
I'm ideally looking for a shaft with the end flange style for the
conical spring washer, and in the 548mm, not 541mm length. Here was
my old one, which seemed ideal:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1973829.jpg
Full story below if you want it.
Apologies if you've received this multiple times...seems like the list
was down for a while?
Thanks as always,
Alex
Long story/more info:
I replaced the CV's and boots with GKN+Rockford in 2016, and things
had been trouble-free since then. I recently had a torque-biasing
diff installed and promptly snapped an axle 4 miles up the proverbial
creek. My triptych of woe:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1973832.jpg
My first repair attempt was a great-looking axle shaft from one of our
favorite online vendors. When I went to install it, noticed it was a
different length, 7mm shorter. Vendor was like, "Uh, probably fine?"
I jacked up my van until the wheel was off the ground (suspension at
full extension) and checked the axial play remaining in the remaining
CV shaft, and it was about 3mm. Unless I'm mistaken, this means that
with the shorter axle, when I lift a wheel off-roading, the axle will
be taking all that force, not the shock. Probably NOT fine. RMA
please....
Next up was a SURTRACK/TRAKMOTIVE VW8062 complete axle purchased at
what turned out to be an insane markup from my local shop. While it
was the correct length, it was defective out of the box, with the
shaft violently hammering into my outer wheel flange under load. Back
whence you came...
Next was a used axle of the correct length from Interstate used parts
in Elsinore, CA. One of the CV's was binding badly, so I swapped in
one of the OK used CV's I had removed in 2016. This shaft turned out
to be a totally different style I had not seen before, with many
scalloped cups where the CV boot rests, and almost no flange near the
splines. When I put on the CV and spring clip, there was a lot of
play, with the CV sliding back and forth on the shaft splines. Due to
the lack of flange, I did not install the spring washer. There was
none on that axle initially. I was thinking of this as a temporary
solution, and just wanted to be driving again, so I just put it on and
did not troubleshoot further. This axle makes some noise under
forward motion with reverse torque, but not so much I'm worried about
immediate failure or damage to other parts.
So, I'm still in the market for a permanent solution, an axle I can
more-or-less count on, (perhaps with slightly less aggressive
driving), is long enough not to stress things when I top out my
suspension, and will hold my GKN joints without play. Any suggestions
are very, very welcome.
Alex
| 
