Date:         Fri, 27 Mar 1998 09:31:12 -0800
Reply-To:     Mark McCulley <raven@HALCYON.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Mark McCulley <raven@HALCYON.COM>
Subject:      Re: Unknown vibration at light throttle settings.
Comments: To: Holly and Chris <hbandcmills@TNTECH.CAMPUS.MCI.NET>,
          Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 10:12 AM 3/27/98 -0600, Holly and Chris wrote:
>That was a Honda. Now I drive a '78 Westy that out of 4 CV joints has 1/2
>of a boot. None of the others are covered. It was like this when I got the
>van and I decided once I felt the same tremor that I wouldn't try to the
>save these CV's with grease and boots - I'd see how long the would last in
>the elements. A long time is the answer as they have been on the road with
>me for about a year now and about 9,000 miles. Have been on dirt roads and
>forded a couple of creeks where nothing got wet inside but I am sure the
>CV's did!
>
>Now the contest is to see who gives up first me or the CV. I'm to the point
>where I may have to buy new halfshafts and at least keep them under the
>back seat because they'll probably let go some night on the HWY when it's
>dark and rainy! Happened to me with my '84 Cabrio (and they looked and felt
>healthy - luckily I was just pulling out of the mechanic's parking lot!).
>
Did you ever think about the possibility that one of your unlubricated CV
joints could seize causing a wheel to lock up and you to lose control of the
van? I can't say for sure that this kind of failure can happen with a CV
joint, but I know it can happen with bearings. I certainly wouldn't temp
fate like this though--what do you have to gain?

-Mark McCulley