Date:         Fri, 12 Feb 1999 03:59:28 -0500
Reply-To:     Derek Drew <drew@INTERPORT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Derek Drew <drew@INTERPORT.NET>
Subject:      Fwd: Re:  Test Setup Test Viscous With Torque Wrench
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>X-Mailer: Calypso Version 2.40.41.08
>Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 22:21:33 -0800
>Reply-To: wolfgang@island.net
>From: "Wolfgang Carolsfeld" <wolfgang@island.net>
>To: drew@interport.net
>Subject: Re:  Test Setup Test Viscous With Torque Wrench
>
>Hello Drew.
>
>I bought a used highmiles front diff from a wrecker last summer and tried
>to determine if it was worth using. I built a plywood half box and bolted
>the two axle flanges to the sides using the CV bolts.  Then I reinstalled
>one of the small bolts that mount to the inputshaft flange to give me
>something to attach the torque wrench to.  I got a value of around 25
>ft/lbs before the VC would allow some slow slip. Then I tried the same
>thing on the original  diff still installed in my van, but with the center
>driveshaft removed. A similar value of around 25.
>I felt that the VC was a bit stiffer than it should be though, so when I
>had the front shafts removed to regrease the CV joints, I took the
>opportunity to switch the two differentials.  Unfortunately the one from
>the wreckers had a very noisy bearing, which wasn't apparent when you
>twisted the flanges while the unit was uninstalled. Didn't become a problem
>till the road test. What a bummer :-(
>Now I've used Rainer Woitok's notes to supplement the diagrams in Bentley,
>and I switched the VC's by spliting the differential cases, and it appears
>that the two VC's work about the same.  Both are high milage, and probably
>too stiff, (they engage more frequenntly than they should, I think) but I
>won't know for sure till I compare to a new VC, I guess.
>The torque test is somewhat inconclusive I gather because various bearings,
>including the ones in the input shaft housing may have and should have
>preload friction, which makes it difficult to know what you are actually
>measuring.  I also get the impression that very few of us have had the
>oportunity to compare several VC's in the same year let alone having 6 at
>once in one shop.   Good luck !
>
>=================
>Wolfgang  Carolsfeld
>wolfgang@island.net

_______________________________________________
Derek Drew                  New York, NY & Washington DC
CEO, ConsumerSearch
drew@interport.net
212-580-6486, 202-966-7907 (Work)
212-580-4459; 202-966-0938 (Home)
     (cell: 917-848-6425)