Vibration - again

1
Mark,
 
Once the prop shaft is removed and the vibration is still present, you can safely disregard all the prop shaft related issues, including mounts and flange alignment.  It then comes down to the rotating components in the two now separate systems - the front and the rear.  The wheels are always the first suspect, so have them balanced. 
 
The half shafts rarely seem to have a balance problem in themselves but their mounting to the inner and outer flanges needs to be checked.  Make sure that they are seated squarely on clean surfaces and that the screws are tight.   A half shaft that has a ball on the way out or an excessively worn track can have a balance problem.  Such wear would be evidenced by looseness when the shaft is out of the vehicle.  Even this is sometimes hard to detect.  When I bought my Syncro about six years ago, it had an intermittent wheel-speed noise but no vibration.  The joints felt reasonable but it took new CV joints to fix it.
 
The next trial is to run the vehicle with the front half shafts removed.  This will eliminate any imbalance getting through to rubber mounts of the front diff.   If the vibration is still there, replace the prop shaft and run the vehicle with the rear half shafts removed.  The VC needs to be in operating condition to do that.
 
Les
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: m.mullet
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 11:25 PM
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] vibration-again

The vibration demon has returned. A balanced propshaft helped for awhile, but I now have vibrations even without shaft installed.
Starting around 40 kmh
Has anyone replaced transmission mounts or had experience with this annoying topic ?
I've read a few posts and studied everything from aligning front/rear flanges to replacing bushes in the propshaft .
Not really sure where to go next so any input is welcome.

Thanks,

Mark

2
re
The next trial is to run the vehicle with the front half shafts removed.  This will eliminate any imbalance getting through to rubber mounts of the front diff.   If the vibration is still there, replace the prop shaft and run the vehicle with the rear half shafts removed.  The VC needs to be in operating condition to do that
 
The rear you can run with the axles out, no problem.
However, you can not just remove the front axles and drive a syncro that way.
You'd need at least the stub axles from old front axles to have in place through the front wheel bearings.
 The wheel and brake disc mounting flange slide over the end of the front stub axles........if you don't have at least the stub axle in the front hubs....
it can't work or roll. 
  I have one left over syncro front stub axle......and I'd save another for a purpose like this......
or .........a stub axle would be good to carry as a back up spare on a trip ..........it's smaller than a whole axle and there for less to carry extra ......and you could operate in 3 wheel drive, if you had to - like if you blew out a front outer CV.
 
Scott
vanagon and syncro vanagon engine conversion specialist, and about 40+ years of full time professional car repair,
and general vanagon and syncro nut .
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Les Harris
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 5:50 PM
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Vibration - again

Mark,
 
Once the prop shaft is removed and the vibration is still present, you can safely disregard all the prop shaft related issues, including mounts and flange alignment.  It then comes down to the rotating components in the two now separate systems - the front and the rear.  The wheels are always the first suspect, so have them balanced. 
 
The half shafts rarely seem to have a balance problem in themselves but their mounting to the inner and outer flanges needs to be checked.  Make sure that they are seated squarely on clean surfaces and that the screws are tight.   A half shaft that has a ball on the way out or an excessively worn track can have a balance problem.  Such wear would be evidenced by looseness when the shaft is out of the vehicle.  Even this is sometimes hard to detect.  When I bought my Syncro about six years ago, it had an intermittent wheel-speed noise but no vibration.  The joints felt reasonable but it took new CV joints to fix it.
 
The next trial is to run the vehicle with the front half shafts removed.  This will eliminate any imbalance getting through to rubber mounts of the front diff.   If the vibration is still there, replace the prop shaft and run the vehicle with the rear half shafts removed.  The VC needs to be in operating condition to do that.
 
Les
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: m.mullet
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 11:25 PM
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australi a] vibration-again

The vibration demon has returned. A balanced propshaft helped for awhile, but I now have vibrations even without shaft installed.
Starting around 40 kmh
Has anyone replaced transmission mounts or had experience with this annoying topic ?
I've read a few posts and studied everything from aligning front/rear flanges to replacing bushes in the propshaft .
Not really sure where to go next so any input is welcome.

Thanks,

Mark

3
> The next trial is to run the vehicle with the front half shafts removed.

>

You will need a dummy axle to do this.
4
OMG!  Note to self: ensure that brain is fully caffeinated before rushing to reply!
 
Sorry, I had other things on my mind and I managed to write about two different vehicles.
 
Scott is correct, of course (he's had his fill of coffee), because the front half shafts include the axle stub and you can't  remove the half shafts and run the vehicle.
 
Sorry all.
 
Les
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 11:22 AM
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Vibration - again

re
The next trial is to run the vehicle with the front half shafts removed.  This will eliminate any imbalance getting through to rubber mounts of the front diff.   If the vibration is still there, replace the prop shaft and run the vehicle with the rear half shafts removed.  The VC needs to be in operating condition to do that
 
The rear you can run with the axles out, no problem.
However, you can not just remove the front axles and drive a syncro that way.
You'd need at least the stub axles from old front axles to have in place through the front wheel bearings.
 The wheel and brake disc mounting flange slide over the end of the front stub axles....... .if you don't have at least the stub axle in the front hubs....
it can't work or roll. 
  I have one left over syncro front stub axle......and I'd save another for a purpose like this......
or .........a stub axle would be good to carry as a back up spare on a trip ..........it' s smaller than a whole axle and there for less to carry extra ......and you could operate in 3 wheel drive, if you had to - like if you blew out a front outer CV.
 
Scott
vanagon and syncro vanagon engine conversion specialist, and about 40+ years of full time professional car repair,
and general vanagon and syncro nut .
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Les Harris
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 5:50 PM
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australi a] Vibration - again

Mark,
 
Once the prop shaft is removed and the vibration is still present, you can safely disregard all the prop shaft related issues, including mounts and flange alignment.  It then comes down to the rotating components in the two now separate systems - the front and the rear.  The wheels are always the first suspect, so have them balanced. 
 
The half shafts rarely seem to have a balance problem in themselves but their mounting to the inner and outer flanges needs to be checked.  Make sure that they are seated squarely on clean surfaces and that the screws are tight.   A half shaft that has a ball on the way out or an excessively worn track can have a balance problem.  Such wear would be evidenced by looseness when the shaft is out of the vehicle.  Even this is sometimes hard to detect.  When I bought my Syncro about six years ago, it had an intermittent wheel-speed noise but no vibration.  The joints felt reasonable but it took new CV joints to fix it.
 
The next trial is to run the vehicle with the front half shafts removed.  This will eliminate any imbalance getting through to rubber mounts of the front diff.   If the vibration is still there, replace the prop shaft and run the vehicle with the rear half shafts removed.  The VC needs to be in operating condition to do that.
 
Les
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: m.mullet
Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 11:25 PM
Subject: [Syncro_T3_Australi a] vibration-again

The vibration demon has returned. A balanced propshaft helped for awhile, but I now have vibrations even without shaft installed.
Starting around 40 kmh
Has anyone replaced transmission mounts or had experience with this annoying topic ?
I've read a few posts and studied everything from aligning front/rear flanges to replacing bushes in the propshaft .
Not really sure where to go next so any input is welcome.

Thanks,

Mark