Date:         Tue, 20 Jul 1999 09:34:49 -0400
Reply-To:     "Fitz-Randolph, Douglas" <dfrandolph@TALKAM.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Fitz-Randolph, Douglas" <dfrandolph@TALKAM.NET>
Subject:      N. NE Mechanic advice (was: Syncro vibrations... I think it's tim
              e for a mechanic!)
Comments: To: syncro@onelist.com
Content-Type: text/plain

Thanks to all who replied with suggestions about the causes of my vibrations
(see excerpt from original post below). I was really looking for advice on
good mechanics in the Northern New England area - there don't seem to be any
listed on either the Vanagon site or on Karl Bloss's list. Derek Drew
supplied Gordi Davis in NH, but that was the only suggestion. What do all
you other N. NE. syncronauts do when you've got syncro-specific problems?

For those inclined to speculate on the causes of the vibrations, in addition
to the original post (below), let me add the following:

1) The vibrations are so bad that it feels like I am driving on railroad
tracks - the ties, not the rails.
2) I made the following repairs with no effect on the vibrations:
    - New rotors, calipers and pads
    - New bearings installed by mechanic
    - Front outer CV joints inspected (OK) repacked, new boots - by mechanic
    - Driveshaft u-joints replaced (once) and balanced (twice) by driveline
shop.
3) The vibrations occur both with my brand new Michelin MXT's and my old
Nokian Hak' LT10 snow tires - both with different sets of wheels.

Anyway, all suggestions/advice is appreciated!

Doug Fitz-Randolph
Yarmouth, ME
dfrandolph@talkam.net
'90 Syncro

Original post: << 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. >>