There it is...
Thanks man.
Now I really want my old axles back.

On Tue, Jul 17, 2018 at 3:48 PM vw_van_fan_Mark <madvws@cox.net> wrote:

> Few know this but early vans like 82 used longer axles. The difference
> isn't great but real. This is documented in VW parts books and some
> aftermarket brands sell both lengths while other sources sell only the
> shorter ones for use in all years.
>
> The reason the length changed was that the tranny/engine position
> changed. To make room for the engine fan on the end of the crankshaft
> the engine and tranny is slightly more forward in the body. The axles in
> these models are at more of an angle front/rear. Then 83+ watercooled
> vans moved the engine/tranny back to make room for the longer 5 speed
> tranny that became available in watercooled models that year.
>
> Early axles were slightly longer, whether manual or auto.
> Later axles are slightly shorter than their early counterparts.
>
> Mark
>
> Vincent Dow wrote:
> > Hello rollers,
> >
> > I finally got *Modesto* into a garage here in greater Montreal to
> > repack/replace three torn CV boots.
> >
> > I discovered the boots were shot on my drive from Los Angeles to Montreal
> > back in late April.
> >
> > The Joints and boots were sold to me by my vw mechanic here in Quebec -
> > just under two years ago. Needless to say I was disappointed with that
> > performance (paid $650 Canadian + tax = not cheap)
> >
> > So a week ago I brought him my replacement Rockford boots from T3 - and
> we
> > talked about different quality cv boots etc. I wanted a break from those
> > guys on the replacement because the ones he sold me didn’t last. But he
> > wouldn’t hear about it.
> >
> > (I reluctantly agreed to pay them three hours for the reinstall)
> >
> > As his guy was bolting the repacked CV axles on, he cussed and hissed
> that
> > the boots were too short - making it almost impossible for him to get the
> > inside bolts started in the threads. He was glaring at me, as if I’d
> > brought the problem into their shop with the Rockford 40mm boots.
> > He finally got a couple bolts in and was able to pull the whole thing
> into
> > place with the pressure of torquing...
> >
> > Then this thought occurred to me: is it possible the axles themselves are
> > too short? Those axles are the rebuilt replacements he sold me - not my
> > originals.
> >
> > Alternatively: is it possible the wrench-man installed (clipped) the
> small
> > end of the boot too far down the axle from the bolt-end ? ) causing the
> > boots to be under extreme tension? And probably fail within six months?
> >
> > BTW the van is an 1982 aircooled with DK transmission.
> >
> > I’ve heard that automatic vanagon cannot use manual-trans axles (and vice
> > versa)
> >
> > Are there more than one (length) of manual cv axles our there?
> > Could it be my previous cv boots also tore because they were being pulled
> > apart rather than resting in a relaxed wAy?
> >
> > I wish I had my old axles back suddenly!
> > Tough summer for the van.
> >
>