Scott, it happened to my 88 GL a few years back. Cost me an art show,
and sent me to the hospital for possible heart attack. Put it in reverse
to go - and locked tight. Couldn't budge nor get it out of gear. In case
#1 it was not inside the tranny that caused the problem, but the shifter
mechanism on the tranny. Replaced all the outside stuff plus the shifter
mechanism up front - problem solved. In Case #2 - no heart attack - just
stress over missing the art show - a very important one for me.

John

On 5/25/2012 11:12 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
> I see.
> I have been dealing with VW transaxles since the 60's ..
> and have never seen one , of the many thousands I've driven or been
> around, that would lock up in reverse only ..
> though of course that does not mean it's not impossible.
>
> On 5/23/2012 10:17 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>> This Vanagon thing is just s side line for me. In my years of industrial
>> experience I have seen my share of bearings fail in such a way that they
>> would only turn in one direction effectively making a one way clutch.
>> I have
>> seen ball, roller, and even taper roller bearing fail this way. Often
>> all it
>> takes is some debris or the bearing material failing. I have also seen my
>> share of VW transmissions fail this way.
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>> Behalf Of
>> Scott Daniel - Turbovans
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 6:55 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Brake locks up in reverse
>>
>> I'll sure go along with that if it's an automatic.
>> I've had it happen ..on a very tired automatic that sat for two
>> years...then
>> I installed it.
>>
>> manual trans though ..possible but very unlikely I would think.
>>
>> are the parts, like the adjuster rod, swapped from side to side by any
>> chance ? ..
>> not that I especially think that would cause this problem.
>>
>> scott
>>
>> On 5/22/2012 3:50 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>>> Are you sure it is the brakes? A bad ring and pinion in the
>>> transmission can cause that nasty effect. If an automatic so can a bad
>> sprag clutch.
>>> Brakes will feel more like a gradual drag. If it is a sudden snap type
>>> hard lock up look into the tranny.
>>>
>>> Dennis
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>>> Behalf Of HotelWestfalia
>>> Sent: Monday, May 21, 2012 11:03 PM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: Brake locks up in reverse
>>>
>>> Hi to all,
>>> I have no idea why, but when I put it in reverse it soon locks up.
>>> What is it?
>>> I took them apart on both sides and all is great other than the drums
>>> are 20 thou oversized already and having deep ridges both sides.
>>> Anyone has an idea?
>>> Thanks God to the Vanagon List,
>>> Zoltan
>>>
> .
>