Bearings can fail quickly and with little warning. Once a cage breaks or
debris jams the rollers to prevent rolling things can self-destruct very
quickly. I've seen more than one VW tranny blow parts out of the case.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Scott Daniel - Turbovans
Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2012 7:51 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Brake locks up in reverse

all right ..
thanks for the info Daryl.
I see ..about the pinion getting out of place badly.

that's from extreme up-down lateral displacement  play on the pinion shaft ?

seems like one would have to be very noisy for years for that to happen.

good to see your post.
Scott

On 5/25/2012 9:36 PM, Daryl Christensen wrote:
> Definitely possible Scott...
> I have one here that feels like it hits a brick wall when the clutch
> is disengaged while in Reverse. See several a year.
> The pinion bearing gets almost 1/2" of slop and it slams the pinion
> teeth into the differential housing only in reverse. Going forwards,
> the shaft is pushed away from the diff and bass ackwards in reverse...
>
> Daryl of AA Transaxle
> 425-788-4070
> "On the cutting edge of Old technology"
> 86 Syncro Westy w/Turbo Zetec in the trunk
> 90 Doka Tristar w/2.5 Subie
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of Scott Daniel - Turbovans
> Sent: Friday, May 25, 2012 9:13 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Brake locks up in reverse
>
> 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
>>>