Good chance it's the front diff.

            Eric                   86-VW4x4
            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler

On Mon, 9 Nov 1998, Gary Thaxter wrote:

> I had to have my driveshaft rebuilt as well.  The drive shaft place
> measured up my u-joints for size, and found a match.  They are available
> everywhere now that I found out the number, NAPA, Canadian Tire, etc.  The
> freaky thing was that the driveshaft place had them in stock and they were
> under 20 bucks each (canadian).  I was a bit skeptical because nothing has
> ever been this easy for my van. . . sure enough I have shakes.  I brought
> the shaft back and had them check it again for balance.  They checked it
> again, but they said that it was well within tolerences.  Are our shafts
> super sensitive to balance?
>
> All in all, parts, labour, balancing cost me $80 canadian.  I figured that
> it was a worthwhile experiment even if it didn't work.  I now have the
> shaft in again and I have bad shakes but at least not as bad as before it
> was rebuilt.
>
> I DID loosen the front diff and "align it longitudinally".
> I DID NOT index the shaft.  Why would the shaft have to go back in exactly
> anyway?  Are not all the components balanced independently anyway??  If
> this is that important, let me know because I will try every position until
> I get it right (should only be 16 positions right?)
>
> What other things can cause vibrations in the Syncro?  What about
> vibrations and "harmonic type vibrations" that happen even with the
> driveshaft out?  (not including tires) (it does the same with BFG ATs,
> Pirelli winter tires, uniroyal tiger paws, bridgestone somethings, I tried
> everything I had) (yes balanced)
>
> I am going to start a complete search of the archives and make a list of
> all different Syncro problems, their causes, and people's remedies.  I'll
> share it when I get it done. (or does one already exist?)
>
> Does the rubber vibration damper get too hard with age?  Are these
> available? Where? (someone mentioned BMW a while back?)
>
> What about diff/trans/engine mounts?  Where these available?
>
> PO just replaced driveaxles with cheap C-Tire ones before I bought the van.
> How bad of a shake can they cause?
>
> I LOVE my syncro, but it has driven me MAD since I bought it.  NEVER buy a
> van from someone that has had it serviced by Canadian Tire.
>
> Thanks ahead,
>
> Gary Thaxter
> 74 transporter panel
> 78 westy
> 85 kombi
> 86 syncroGL (shake, rattle, and roll) (arrgh)
>