Kris, Is the syncro driveline a true univeral (aka Hooke or Rose) joint or a cv? Two forks and a cross linking them? Or rubber boots and a ring full of big ball bearings? If its a Hooke joint, you just need new bearings, not a new joint. Is the dealer price $145 for a new bearing kit OR a new cross AND bearings OR is there a cross + bearing assembly which bolts on at both ends? Even VWOA can't sell four bearings for $145, can they? Lets just say I was given a '62 Triumph Herald for good reasons and I accepted it for similarly good reasons. One of the the drive shaft Hooke joint bearings had lost its needle rollers YEARS before. Made a WAY big KLUNK whenever acceleration passed through zero and it had to move 1/2 inch to the other rubbing surfaces... Of course I only drove it that way in the interest of science... The bearings themselves were found at a specialist in Brit cars, and probably about $5 each. But Liquid Wrench and gentle persuasion failed to produce the disassembly results the manual promised. The local high-quality, non-chain FLAPS, "A & M Motor Supply", quoted $30 an end to replace universal joint bearing. I think they needed it for a weekday. Counter guys thought it was pretty funny- the machinist spent over an hour doing the job. Morals: Quality doesn't cost more- once things get funky enough, flat-rate mechanics can SAVE you money :) Good luck, Bill
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