Speaking of Syncro driveshafts, is it possible to remove a bad one and
continue driving as normal?  Or, does the freewheeling driveshaft output
cause any problems?  Does it need a load on it to transfer drive to rear
wheels properly ( ie; an extra differential)? Could this slightly improve
gas mileage, due to it behaving as a 2WD only?  My '03 Rav4 AWD appears to
be similar, and it does have a VC, so I was wondering about all this.

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken Wilford" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 7:56 AM
Subject: Empi axle shafts are cool!

>I hope I wasn't misunderstood when talking about my bad experience with
> a Chinese made bearing.  I wasn't trying to say that everything that
> comes from China is bad.  As Jim and others have stated VW and other
> German manufacturers have a huge footprint and as long as their QC is in
> place I have not be disappointed in the product.
>
> I have been selling the EMPI axle shafts that Jim was referring to in
> his excellent post, for about two years now.  They have been great.
> They are much cheaper than the Lobro and they are also cheaper than a
> rebuild in that you don't have to worry about cores and shipping these
> back and forth.  I have these shafts for the 2wd and 4wd Vanagon (front
> shafts).  They have been a great product and I highly recommend them.  I
> also have a really excellent Syncro drive shaft that we sell that is
> made here in the US.  All new parts and an updated design to remedy the
> syncro vibration problems that the OE shafts are prone to.   I have had
> so much positive feed back on the syncro driveshaft it isn't funny and I
> have sold them all over the world from Canada, to Japan, to Australia.
> Everyone loves them.
>
> I hope this clears things up.
>
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com