> as of about 12:15 this afternoon when the passenger side rear axle sheared
> out of my transmission.  looks like four of the bolts backed out and then
> the last two sheared when i went over a bump.

Bill... same thing happened to me in my syncro except in the front driver's
side (going 45 on a curve over a bridge!).  Car would still go into gear,
but was not really drivable... Every 6-8 feet it would grind metal on metal
like "please don't move me anymore."  Called a flatbed tow truck and rolled
it on carefully and dropped it at my mechanics place.  Same thing... the
bolts had sheared off and the axel was hanging on by two twisted bolts that
had to be cut out before they could be replaced.  Inexpenxive fix, but
scared the shit outta me... I thought the whole front diff was going south.

They tell me that periodically we should re-torque the bolts on all axels
going into the front diff and tranny.  They can obviously come loose.  Not
something I want to experience again.

Let me know how yours turns out.  Good luck.

Mick Kalber
89 Syncro Westy "Daddeo"
Tropical Visions Video, Inc.
62 Halaulani Place
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
808-935-5557
808-935-0066 (fax)
hotlava@interpac.net
www.volcanoscapes.com

----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Kasper <dragonlist@ipmts.ucsc.edu>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2001 10:45 AM
Subject: i've become a true vanagon owner [HELP!!]

> as of about 12:15 this afternoon when the passenger side rear axle sheared
> out of my transmission.  looks like four of the bolts backed out and then
> the last two sheared when i went over a bump.  as a consequence i have NO
> ability to drive my little syncrovan, it will not go into gear (forward or
> reverse).
>
> please tell me if i am living a pipe dream:  i am thinking i should just
be
> able to bolt up the other four bolts and herd it gently over to volks
cafe,
> where they can reattach the axle after taking out the sheared bolts.
>
> is this doable?
>
> thanks. i will be checking intermittantly over the next half hour for any
> replies, so any help is VERY much appreciated.
>
> bill
> '87 syncro westfalia
> http://www.scruznet.com/~kasper/pics/westy/
> first real problem
>