Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (July 1999, week 3)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Tue, 20 Jul 1999 00:11:03 -0700
Reply-To:     Randolph Feuerriegel <RFeuerriegel@BC.SYMPATICO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Randolph Feuerriegel <RFeuerriegel@BC.SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject:      Re: Syncro vibrations... I think it's time for a mechanic!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Greetings Doug

I'm willing to bet that it is still the driveshaft. I have gone thru the same routine. Even returned the rebuilt shaft 3 times to get proper balancing. No luck. Fortuntely, I found a used shaft, while not perfectly smooth, but close, and has not changed in 30,000 km. As for the shafts, I am led to believe that the u-joints must be perfectly centered, then the shaft balanced. I don't think anyone has found the correct U-joints without using numerous shims to make them fit. If someone has and put substantial mileage on it, I would love to hear about it. Good luck and keep us posted.

Fitz-Randolph, Douglas wrote: > > I started having these vibrations - body of car, not steering wheel or brake > pedal - when applying power at certain speeds. They spread to other speeds > over the course of a few months, and in the last week (with driveshaft) > increased exponentially and became so bad that I thought it best not to > drive the van. Removed the driveshaft, presto - problem gone. The u-joints > were in sorry shape - binding and sticking - so I had them rebuilt by a > local driveline shop. Reinstalled the driveshaft - the vibrations weren't > quite as severe, but were still completely unacceptable - driving the van > still didn't seem like a good idea. Took the driveshaft back - he rebalanced > it - no difference. He said "there's no way just a bad driveshaft could be > causing vibration like that". My door lock buttons were unscrewing all by > themselves! The front bearings and outer CV joints check out fine, the inner > CV's were both replaced about 10-20,000 miles ago. > > Aarrgh! Where's the problem? Still the driveshaft? Front end of drivetrain? > Transmission? I don't have the wherewithal to begin tearing apart the > drivetrain to figure out which bearing is shot, or otherwise what the > problem is. I am hesitant to go to my local VW dealer because of a) price > and b) previous less-than-satisfactory experiences. There are a few VW > specialists around - they seem to be air-cooled specialists - "Syncro - Oh - > I've seen a few of those around...". > > I've heard a lot of good things about some transmission people on the list, > but none in Northern New England that I can recall. I've got family in NJ > and could conceivably go to Ken W if he's comfortable with this sort of > stuff, but I wish there was someone up here I could feel confident about! > > Any ideas, fellow listees/syncronauts? > > Doug Fitz-Randolph > Yarmouth, ME (Southern Maine) > dfrandolph@talkam.net > '90 Syncro (145K on odometer, 50K on engine, 70K on trans)

-- R.Feuerriegel 88 syncro


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.