Perhaps they just behave better around me..
I've seen  two seized up VW manual trans ..
a ton of noisy ones ..
can't think of any with parts blown out the sides, starting from the 60's.

On 5/26/2012 9:05 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> 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
>>>>