Date:         Mon, 4 May 1998 15:48:33 -0800
Reply-To:     Chris Wyatt <cwyatt@GI.ALASKA.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Wyatt <cwyatt@GI.ALASKA.EDU>
Subject:      Syncro drive shaft seal & motor mounts
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I'm looking at a leak around the lock ring, where the right side rear drive
shaft exits the transmission.  My mechanic is getting quotes on parts.

What might I need to replace?  How many seals/gaskets are there at that
junction?


I had noticed a few drops on the garage floor, then on the bottom of the
tranny.  I dropped the skid plate, and tried to add some tranny fluid
(Redline MTL), but it took less than a cup to overfill it.  I must have
noticed the leak soon after it began.

My mechanic put it up on the lift to see the leak, and I played with the
drive shafts and VC, turning all the wheels-- what fun!  I may not have
proven anything about the condition of the VC, but it was a challenge to
turn one wheel, and try to predict which way one of the other wheels would
turn.  I also noticed that one of the front inner CV boots had chucked its
band/clamp again... great.  But the most enlightening moment of the visit
was when he asked me where the motor mount bolts were, and pointed to the
holes that had held the skid plate rear bolts.  Motor mounts?  I stammered
a bit, muttered something about my workbench, and made him promise not to
tell anyone in town I had done that.

So, should anyone else decide to drive without their Syncro skid plate, go
ahead and put the bolts back in their holes, for safe keeping, and so your
engine doesn't bounce through its lid into the back seat...


Thanks for any advice regarding that drive shaft seal.

Chris Wyatt
'87 Syncro GL
Fairbanks, Alaska