Before AAA tow truck arrived I did try to yank the drive shafts to see
if any of the CV joints had disconnected or broken off. Both shafts were
tight and did not move at all. I ruled out CV joints at the time. But I will
check them out again. The input shaft sleeve is really the most likely
part that is broken. Can it be reached and replaced by taking the bell
housing off? If yes then I guess I may still have a tranny that can be saved.

David

--- Karl Mullendore <groups@WESTYVENTURES.COM> wrote:

> A little mechanical education? I'm quite aware how the Vanagon
> transmission works. :-)
>
> The fact that the noise is still there in neutral doesn't mean a CV
> still couldn't be the culprit...mechanical drag internally will still
> cause the output flange to turn if the CV joint was broken.
>
> That said, I do know of at least one person who broke one and then
> another input shaft sleeve in his Syncro; turned out the needle bearing
> of the input shaft was kaput. I hope it's not a new tranny you need!
>
> Karl
>
> David Kao wrote:
> > There are two driving shafts in the transmission. You can call one
> > input shaft and the other output shaft. The output shaft drives the
> > ring gear and the drive shaft and CV joints. With the gears set in
> > neutral the output shaft is not spinning. So the noise really can not
> > be from the CV joints. It is probably a shattered sleeve on the input
> > shaft that connects the main shafts in the bell housing and the main
> > shaft in the gear box. Or there is something in the gear box. If it is
> > the sleeve I am extremely lucky. It can be easily replaced. I have had
> > a chattering clutch for many years. The sleeve may be worn badly then
> > finally gave up.
>

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