Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999 12:08:56 -0400
Reply-To: EMZ <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: EMZ <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
Subject: Re: N. NE Mechanic advice (was: Syncro vibrations... I think it's
tim e for a mechanic!)
In-Reply-To: <C1A47AF64D80D01198AC00A024CC349990F39E@TA_EXCHANGE1>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
If the vibration is that bad, try this. I did this years ago.
Jack up all four wheel, on good strong jack stands, about 2 inches
off the ground. Have someone start the van and run thru the gears
until the vibration is at it's worst. You should be able to
climb under the Van and see the drive shaft, or whatever, shacking.
Eric 86-VW4x4
vw4x4@fyi.net 72-240z
Pittsburgh, PA USA 1936-Chrysler
On Tue, 20 Jul 1999, Fitz-Randolph, Douglas wrote:
> 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. >>
>
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