Date:         Sat, 4 Oct 1997 15:27:30 -0500
Reply-To:     Karl_G_Vochatzer@NOTES.AMRCORP.COM
Sender:       Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From:         Karl Vochatzer <Karl_G_Vochatzer@NOTES.AMRCORP.COM>
Subject:      Re: Binding when turning
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Mark, I think you have an excellent point.  Not that I wouldn't be sweating
bullets with the thought of a viscuous coupling going bad if I had one....
But just to throw this in there for support on your hypothesis, my 88
Bronco II has what I would call the most binding I ever felt on sharp turns
whether in 4X4 low or high.  It has always done this, and is perfectly
normal.  In fact, when ever I drive in 4x4 high, I just change the transfer
case from 4x4 to 2x4 before pulling into the drive or into parking spaces
just because I don't like the feel of it doing the binding.

Karl
86 Westy
88 GL
88 Bronco II 4x4




raven@HALCYON.COM on 10/03/97 05:34:44 PM

Please respond to raven@HALCYON.COM

To:   Vanagon@GERRY.SDSC.EDU
cc:    (bcc: Karl G Vochatzer/AMR)
Subject:  Re: Binding when turning




Are you guys sure you're not making a problem where none really exists?
It's my understanding that this "binding" on tight turns is characteristic
of all syncros (indeed many 4WDs as well). There is some binding on my
syncro when making really tight turns, but I don't consider it a problem.
Have you ever driven other 4WD vehicles and made a tight turn? I rented a
Jeep Cherokee in Alaska this summer and the binding on this vehicle in
turns was ten times worse than the Vanagon. I doubt that this binding has
anything at all to do with the VC--it's probably related to the front diff
or CV joints. And again, I think this a characteristic of the vehicle--I
don't think you should expect to be able to turn the steering wheel all the
way until it locks and not experience some binding.

-Mark McCulley
87 syncro Westfalia

At 02:42 PM 10/3/97 -0400, Derek Drew wrote:
>I have this thing too. We are doomed!
>
>Big $$ to replace the Viscous Coupling. But you can drive around for a
long >time like that. Just make the air pressure in all your tires exactly
the >same and avoid tight turns!
>
>
>At 11:21 PM 10/2/97 -0700, you wrote:
>>my '89 westy syncro binds up really tight when its hot and i make a
>>sharp turn...like to turn around in a parking lot...the binding seems to
>>be more than what one would expect from the vc on a tight turn....its
>>almost like the brakes are on...the vehicle will not roll freely...and
>>it does not bind to this extent when not hot....
>>
>>am i doomed?  will changing the fluid help?  hurt?  i appreciate any
>>response....to this most disturbing symptom...effect....whatever...
>>
>>
>___________________________________
>Derek Drew                           New York, NY
>drew@interport.net
>