The customer
said the van went like a bat, comparatively.

This is why I have ALWAYS felt the Syncro SHOULD have been designed with a
decoupler and locking / unlocking front hubs to allow the entire front drive
line to remain STATIC until it is really needed.  What a huge waste in fuel,
tires, performance, wear and tear on expensive parts. If you had to get out
of your rig (buzz kill I know) to lock or unlock your front hubs it would be
a small price to pay for all the advantages.

If anybody ever develops a kit to convert the syncro over to free wheel /
locking front hubs please let me know I would pay a thousand  ($1000) bucks
for a properly engineered kit to do this, mainly because after having
several jeeps and scouts it would remind me of those 4WD days long ago every
time I get out to "lock or unlock em')

Doug

----- Original Message -----
From: "MilosKitchen" <sagmoore@ZOOMINTERNET.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 3:23 AM
Subject: Re: Synchro to 2wd

> Not speaking from personal experience but, many years ago I used to
frequent
> a small VW repair shop south of Pittsburgh. Cheapness (or is that
> frugality?)  knows no bounds. One of their customers did not want to renew
> the front CV's on his Syncro. The solution was to remove the front axles
and
> disassemble the outer CV's. They then reinstalled just the outer CV "cup"
> and axle spindles, thereby keeping the wheel bearing preload. The customer
> said the van went like a bat, comparatively.
>
> I'm not suggesting it, merely saying it has been done.
>
> Dave
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
> Karin Baker & Raymond Paquette
> Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 12:44 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Synchro to 2wd
>
> Hey
>
> I'm considering removing the driveshaft and front axles from my Synchro in
> preparation for a long road trip.  I'm traveling with my parent-in-laws,
so
> I know we won't be going offroad, so no need for the 4wheel drive.  The
> front CV's are klacking, so I'll be taking them out to replace, and it
> occurs to me to remove the driveshaft, and not put things back together
> until after we return.
>
> I'm hoping for: better gas mileage, more useable power, as well as saving
> the wear and tear on the front drive parts.
>
> Does anyone have any experience with this?  I'm especially concerned about
> damaging something by running my Synchro this way.  Can't imagine that it
> would, but sometimes my imagination is limited.
>
> Thanks
>
> Raymond
>
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