Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
VanagonEuroVan
Subject:Syncro VC testing
From:Tim Smith
Date:Wed, 9 Dec 1998 11:10:26 -0400

Hi All,

Testing a VC by jacking one side of the van won't tell you anything, just
jack a front wheel and try to turn it. And this won't help either! (except
perhaps if the VC had died in the 'on' position and wheel was impossible to
turn).

VC must be 'hot' to be working. Factory spec is method #2, support the rear
wheels on rollers somehow? In Granny/rev it should pull itself off the
rollers promptly at 2000-3000RPM.  Hill climbing is a good test, and most
fun besides, deep sand or mud will show you probs too, but stuck is stuck.

Turning tight circles in parking lot will warm up the VC enough to get some
tire scrubbing also. When you take your foot off the gas the braking effect
due to different F to R wheel speeds and the 'locked' VC will be
noticeable, way more than any 2WD. Don't have the rear locker on for this!
HTH, Tim

Have something to add on this topic today? Revive this thread in the forum »