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)