Plan to take the cv joints out and clean-inspect them. There should not be
too much play on these outers. The inners take up all the axle length
changes as the suspension travels-turns.

You might as well plan on doing the front end. Some disassembly is needed to
get those axle shafts out, at least the upper ball joints where they attach
to the control arms.
With the arms disconnected from the ball joints check for smooth squeak free
movement of the upper control arm bushings. Check the ball joints and tie
rod ends. The radius rod mounts-sleeves will need to be replaced, trust me.
Also check the lower control arm mounts, (bushings). Most likely they have
twisted or creep and the arm can be contacting-wearing out the chassis
attachments. And then of course there are the shocks and those upper mounts.
Since it is all a part you may want to do the wheel bearings and then the
brakes, maybe a big brake kit to go with that engine.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Dick Wong
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 5:44 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: New owner questions

Hi,

I'm new to the list.  Picked up my "new' 87 Syncro earlier this month.  Has
about 155K miles on the chassis and about 22K miles on the 2.5L VW/Audi
in-line 5 cylinder.

I am going through the whole van and making a list of things I need to do
and fix.

I found that one of the front half-shafts needs a outer CV boot.  When I
move the shaft, it will move left to right about a quarter inch and I can
hear it clank inside the outer CV joint.  The other front half-shaft does
not need boots, but it also moves about the same amount when I push and pull
it.  Is this normal?

Other than the obvious CV boot, should I be also picking up the outer CV
joint also?  What about the other side that doesn't need any boots but does
have some movement?

Thanks.

-Dick-
78 Scirocco
87 Syncro
12 Golf TDI