Date:         Sat, 21 Mar 1998 11:44:13 -0700
Reply-To:     Fred Porter <fporter@EYRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Fred Porter <fporter@EYRING.COM>
Organization: EYRING, Corp.
Subject:      Silly CV abuse,
              part Deux /f (WAS: Re: Unknown vibration at light throttle
              settings.)
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Holly and/or 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!).
>
Well, after i read this enlightening bit about CV joints, i decided to
one up you:
I ran out to my van, pulled the drain and fill plugs on both gearboxes
of my syncro and let the oil run out.  I left the plugs out too.  Then i
cut all 8 CV boots off my syncro's halfshafts and sprayed gasoline on
them to start getting the grease out.  Then i pulled the cover off my
AFM and threw it in the bushes.  I also took the airfilter out and took
off the air inlet to the filter box.  This weekend, i plan to drive down
to the desert via jeep roads, fording several streams, and then, if i
make it that far, baja around in the sand dunes.  Just so I can get
home, i'm taking two new gearboxes, a new engine and 4 half shafts with
me.  Just hope theres enuf room under the van to get the new gearboxes
in.

its miller time!
Fred