Rainer
I saw a setup last weekend, I would like to get yours (and others) opinion
on.

 87 Westy Syncro, the PO had removed the front half shafts. Then had taken
the out side CV apart and  used only the end (splined) part to hold the
wheels on. The new owner is driving it around like this. To recap... the
main front to rear drive shaft is still IN, turning the VC, but NO CV shafts
are connected to the front dif, only the outside CV halves are used to hold
the wheel bearing together.... I have never seen this done this way
before..... will this damage his VC .... will it change the strength &
handling of the front end?

Rob
87 Westy SyncroGL.....Cynosure 86k km
Moonstone Ont.
Syncro87@Hotmail.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Dr. Rainer Woitok <woitok@RRZE.UNI-ERLANGEN.DE>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 1999 5:34 AM
Subject: Re: Drive shaft removal (Syncro)

> Brent and all you other Syncronauts,
>
> On Wed, 1999-06-09 10:45:05 -0700, Brent Christensen wrote:
>
> > ...
> > Would any of you Syncronauts out there recommend removing the drive
shaft
> > and carrying it with me until reaching the back country?
>
> I would  not generally recommend that  because under  extreme conditions
> (like emergency maneuvers)  a   4WD Syncro handles  better  than  a  2WD
> Syncro.  But if your viscous coupling is  already rather tight you could
> remove  some of the strain   on the various  components  by removing the
> drive shaft (been there, done that).
>
> However,  I'm  not going to   buy  some other listees'  comments  that a
> removed drive shaft might put additional stress on the  front diff or on
> the viscous coupling.  True, the viscous  coupling is now  driven by the
> front  axles and the  front diff, but  its other (free) end just happily
> rotates in the open air  ... I really can't  see how this should do  any
> harm.
>
> >                                                           If anyone has
done
> > this, where did you stow the drive shaft while underway?
>
> On the floor right in front of the rear  seat bench.  But then, I've got
> a  passenger van, not  a Westy.  And yes,   as somebody else has already
> pointed   out, it could be a   real mess if   the drive shaft were muddy
> ... :-)
>
> >                                                           How long does
it
> > take to R & R?
>
> Well, it  largely depends  on  how  fast   you're working :-)  ...   Ok,
> seriously,  perhaps half an  hour  when you do  it  the first time, less
> later.  It's only  four nuts  and bolts  (13mm, sometimes  only 12mm) on
> either  side, but due  to the  geometry you  can  only use open wrenches
> there.  You don't even need a jack.  I've done it on the plain ground.
>
> Before you undo the bolts mark  the flages, so you  later know which end
> goes where and  how the drive shaft  was aligned relative to the gearbox
> and  front  diff flange.   When the  bolts  are removed  the drive shaft
> doesn't simply fall down, you'll have to persuade it by gently driving a
> screw driver between  the flanges ... well,  the correct way as per  the
> German factory repair manual would   be to loosen   the three 17mm  nuts
> which hold the front  diff  in place, so   the front diff could  move  a
> little out of   the way (by all means   don't forget to  retighten these
> nuts!).
>
> > ...
> >       I am interested in improving fuel economy, and saving wear & tear
on
> > the front diff. and VC.
>
> If your viscous  coupling really is ok,  I wouldn't put  my money on any
> fuel savings achieved that way.  Reason: rather than  by the drive shaft
> the front  wheels  as well as the   front diff and  the viscous coupling
> itself are now driven by  the road ...  but it's still your engine which
> keeps them going ...
>
> For much of  the same reason I wouldn't  expect measurable less wear and
> tear on the front  diff and the  viscous coupling.  Provided the viscous
> coupling is still  ok, and provided your  tires front and  rear have the
> same diameter (within 1 or 2 mm).
>
> However,  if you viscous coupling is  already shot  more or less, you'll
> really gain  something  from removing the  drive  shaft on the road  and
> installing it only off the road  (but before you get  stuck knee deep in
> mud :-)
>
> > Anyone ever had vibration problems spontaneously appear after removing
and
> > then reinstalling the drive shaft without modifying anything?
>
> Not that I know of.
>
> I hope that helps, even though your milage may vary ... :-)
>
> Sincerely
>  Rainer
>
> '89 Caravelle GL Syncro 16"
>
>  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> | Rainer M Woitok                  | Phone: (+49-9131) 85-27811,-27031 |
> | Regionales Rechenzentrum         |                                   |
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> | Germany                          | Mail: Woitok@RRZE.Uni-Erlangen.DE |
>  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>