Scott,

I have had some experience in the automotive industry, and the following is
a generalization:

Axle rebuilders do a minimum of work for a maximum of profit. Normally they
disassemble an old CV joint, clean it up and replace the balls with new ones
of a very slightly larger diameter to compensate for the wear of the grooves
on the tracks. This temporarily eliminates the play of the worn joint. They
also always install new boots.

When originall manufactured, CV joint ball tracks are very precisely
finished, with surface tolerances in the micron range. The ball tracks also
undergo other finishing processes like heat treating or case hardening or
something like that, and the corruption of the tracks basically ruins the
joint. No rebuilders that I have ever heard of ever remachine the joint,
because the machine tools are incredibly expensive, and they do so many
different kinds of joints that I suppose it is not practical. Really good
rebuilders will replace all the obviously worn components, like maybe the
inside track-or- the outside track, but I can't see microns, and neither can
they. (Disclaimer) I know nothing of what kind of rebuilders that Napa might
use.

When they give you a lifetime warranty they are counting on the axle joints
lasting about 20K miles, long enough for you to either sell the car or lose
the receipt. Even if they do have to give you one new set of axles, they
either  make money or break even.

Maybe you got new joints, because they do sometimes do that. I don't know.
But I would inquire at the parts store to be sure.

Tom Cates
83 Westfalia, 'Hammurabi'

----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Grillo" <scottgrillo@COMPUSERVE.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 24, 2000 3:42 PM
Subject: Re: Axle shaft repairs

> Just adding my 2cents....
>
> When I needed to replace the CVs on my '85, ;I pulled the shaft, found
> out that the FLAPS didn't have stock on a rebuilt half shaft.  He had
> mine rebuilt for $100, which was less than it cost to have the mechanic
> replace the boot.  Moral - your local NAPA dealer may be able to get
> your drive shaft overhauled for a great price!
>
> (Yes I know it may not be 'german CV joints', but they worked just
> fine....