Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2022 14:59:01 +0000
Reply-To: "ddbjorkman@verizon.net" <ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "ddbjorkman@verizon.net" <ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Transmission Advice/Condolences? (w/pics)
In-Reply-To: <CACARJKodErhnDQ2xHkePN_Z4vpgfR84K70V9KgTWAvmajs_tqw@mail.gmail.com>
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Hi Alex;
I had to do this myself recently. I had Dennis Haynes drop it and take a look inside. From his diagnosis we decided having him rebuild it wouldn't work due to what we found. He is a GoWesty affectionado so we went with their tranny. Took it for a 2 month trek down through the Carolinas and worked our way through the Everglades and Big Cypress then down to the Keys and home (MA). It worked well, as i would expect. I have also used German Transaxel, but was not happy with the condition of the case. Unless yours is really bad, and you can find a competent rebuilder, rebuilding yours might be the best option.
Dave B.the Boston one
-----Original Message-----
From: Alex MeVay <alex@MEVAY.ORG>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Thu, Jan 13, 2022 1:03 am
Subject: Transmission Advice/Condolences? (w/pics)
Hi All,
1982 Vanagon, early 091 4sp manual. Over the past few k miles, I've
been hearing more and more gear noise (buzz/whine) from the
transmission. 1st and 2nd are "pretty darn" loud, 3rd audible. No
audible noise from 4th, but I believe 4th gear was replaced a few
years ago. In neutral, there is a slight "grumbling" (bad bearing?)
sound that fades away if I push the clutch in and (presumably) the
input shaft spins down. Van drives and shifts great.
I pulled the magnetic drain plug recently to have a look and found a
nice little christmas tree:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2252060.jpg
The deposits seemed to be thin metal flecks of up to about a mm:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2252059.jpg
Fluid level was just below the filler hole, seemed OK.
I had changed the fluid and cleaned off the magnetic plug 18 months
and 8,400 miles ago (filled up with Mobil 1 full synthetic 75W90 LS)
when I upgraded to the 930 CV's, so all accumulation was from that
recent period.
Soooooo.....thoughts/advice?
Separately, I am in the market for a new shop for this work. I recall
there were some recs in a thread last year, but I haven't been able to
dig it up. Interested in any recs within 1000 miles of San Diego,
whether that's for the complete project, or just to pull the
transmission and send it off to AA or German Transaxle, or whomever
the favorites are these days.
Thanks as always,
Alex
