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Subject:Re: '87 Syncro needs lost spacer/shim for rear axle
From:Old Volks Home
Date:Fri, 3 Apr 1998 12:03:22 -0800

Well, after speaking with my contact at VOA, this spacer/shim was obsoleted
many, many years ago for the rear axles, as the so-called engineers (ha) at
VW decided it was not needed when serving the joints.

Apparently Wassers from 83.5 through about 88 had them installed originally
and the pieces were available only in the CV Boot Kit or the CV Joint &
Boot Kit.  It has since been dropped from the components of either kit.  I
checked my 84 Westy, but there's no spacer/shims on mine either (trans was
replaced several years ago by original owner at VW, so they could have just
left them off when servicing the joints at the time [they were replaced too]).

In studying the film a little closer, it notes that the crescent spacers (3
of them on one joint) that the CV Bolts go through (211-501-357) on the
outside of the joint/boot is for models with 14" tires.  Now there's
another mystery - if the Syncro came with 15" or 16" tires, what would be
used in it's place?  The film(s), nor my contact at VOA could say.
Probably for markets outside North America (remember where that is Chris?)..;)

Erik is correct in that there are spacer/shims on the front inner CV's
(251-407-295 - VW gets $17.45 each).

Jim Thompson
84 Westy 2.1 * 62 Beetle * 90 Fox Wagon
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