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Date:         Fri, 22 May 1998 18:01:21 -0700
Reply-To:     "Steven X. Schwenk" <sxs@SCHWENK-LAW.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Steven X. Schwenk" <sxs@SCHWENK-LAW.COM>
Subject:      Re: syncro rumble....syncro whine
Comments: To: Jwilli941 <Jwilli941@aol.com>, vanagon List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Some new developments on chasing the cause of the rumble/flutter in my drive line. A change in symptoms to report after some repairs.

I replaced the rear cv's...all four with new lobros. Also found a little problem with the rear brakes. The adjuster tab riveted to one of the new shoes had all but fallen off....causing one wheel to be over adjusted and the other to be under adjusted. This in turn caused the left wheel to bind or catch briefly once every rotation...on the over-adjustred left rear brake shoe. I fixed all that and the wheels now turn fine and the brakes are properly adjusted. The wheel bearings are fine. The old cv's were still in fairly good shape and could have gone for a while yet...but there was some marring and it seemed more cost-effective to just replace them while everything was apart. I now have two good spares ...and can surmise the fronts are in good shape and will last awhile. (front & rears have been greased/maintained on an equal basis.)

The "bad" rumbling/thumping-like sound/vibration between 2500 and 3000 rpm is now gone....but symptoms remain. There is still a gentle "fluttering" like feeling in that rpm range...almost feels like the motor and/or tranny are shaking/fluttering gently in their mounts, but all the mounts seem ok. The fluttering is not always there...you can't feel it in the lower gears so much. It is more noticable in 3rd and 4th up a slight incline as you gently accelerate through that rpm range. The road has to be smooth or else the sensation you feel gets lost in the jostling caused by the bumps in the road.

I have no idea whether worn parts in the transaxle can cause such symptoms. I am still concerned about the whine that you can hear only over 60 mph and only when the drive train is loaded on acceleration. The sound level is not so alarming. What bothers me is that the sound is not a flat whine....there is a slight waver in it ... otherwise I might just attribute it to normal drive line noise.

At this point, I feel like I am chasing phantoms but am too concerned to continue driving it until I am sure the transaxle is ok. I am taking it to Freds on tuesday for a diagnostic run with one of their mechanics and their trans guy. Will report back afterward.

steve 1990 syncro westfalia

Jwilli941 wrote:

> In a message dated 98-05-21 23:28:27 EDT, you write: > > << At Bently, page 35.62, there is a picture of the differential... > you can see a plate bolted to it...that plate. >> > > OK- will take a look at my Bentley tomorrow at work. > > Todd Hill


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