VC options

Post by **peasant** » 19 Oct 2007, 08:03

What state is your current VC in?

Maybe you've already got a "sports VC" without knowing it and all you need is the de-coupler.

Because, from my understanding, all that a "sports VC" is, is slightly harder than normal.

Website · Post by **syncrosimon** » 19 Oct 2007, 08:27

The vc is a bit of a pig to park, scrunching up the drive gravel, but very good off road. It does get tighter after a bit of motorway madness though.

The last syncro I had was years ago, and I remember that used to tighten just a little bit, but not like this present one.

I have spent all day off roading and the VC as it is is great for that. So I think just the De-coupler to start with.

Mind you the VC is now 15 yeras old, even if it has only done 110,000km so it prob is knackered.

Post by **lloyd** » 19 Oct 2007, 11:05

I don't have a syncro .... yet, but have driven 4x4's for over 30 years. All had tranfer cases to engage/disengage front and rear. Only two out of 10 had full time on road 4x4. One had an open differential transfer case with 2 wheel high, 4 high open, 4 high locked, and 4 low locked which is best option. Other had transfer case with VC coupling with 4 high and 4 low. Problem with it was rear had to start slipping before front would engage. Very scary on slick roads at speed when backend starts to slide out the frontend trys to pull it back. It was the worst of all. All the rest had 2 high, 4 high (locked) and 4 low (locked. I lived where 4x4 was needed on highway several months a year and found no problem using 4 high on slick roads just don't use it if roads are not slick. No big deal. Advantages are that both axles must turn. Dissadvantage is only when trying to turn a corner on dry road in 4x4 mode. And I don't use 4x4 mode on dry stuff. VC is like a limited slip axle. Not near as good as a selectable locker.. which syncros have. So why not go selectable front to rear?

In the end it's a personal decision, but selectable is my choice for front to rear and side to side. VC/limited slip just isn't as good when you really need all 4 wheels to pull regardles of what traction is under each axle/tire.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 19 Oct 2007, 14:24

Unless its very slippery you WILL break something if locked up with a decoupler.....

My VC is tight.. 168k km... and works very well off road.. ok for short trips but longet ones its tight.. and I woldnt want to be driving twist roads on road tyres, the "muds" move around a lot more on tarmac for the short distances I do "on an event"..

Post by **airhead** » 19 Oct 2007, 15:22

My current VC is bunched. The NCT (Irelands MOT) centre put the van on 2 wheeled rollers and spun the front wheels and broke the bloody thing, so my insurance is covering the repair, and the shaft decoupler and sports VC is what I want.

Post by **peasant** » 19 Oct 2007, 15:54

Did you not tell them that it was permanent 4WD?

If it was me they'd done that to, I be getting a brand spanking new original equipment VC from VW (~2000 Euro I believe) with warranty and all, not something re-worked, re-furbished and re-filled.

With a new VC you'll be allright for at least the next 150.000 km, your "sports VC" might not make it until next year.

Feck the off-road improvements ...the chance that someone else will pay for a new, perfect VC will only come once.

And if you're not happy with the new one, you can take it out again and swap it for a "sports VC" and decoupler any time

E D I T:

just noticed ...YOUR INSURANCE is covering the repair?
Why not theirs ?

Post by **andysimpson** » 19 Oct 2007, 18:21

The solid shaft will have advantages off road but the VC is excellent on road, mine would be dangerous without permanent 4wd in the wet.

Post by **lloyd** » 19 Oct 2007, 18:24

If it's slick enough for 2wd to be dangerous, it's slick enough to use 4wd no problem

Post by **Andy syncro-nutz** » 19 Oct 2007, 18:36

andysimpson wrote: mine would be dangerous without permanent 4wd in the wet.

Car/van's are not dangerous in wet/dry/snow no matter the weather! It's ultimately and undenibly down to the operator to respect those condition the weather has dictated! Try taking on the weather! You wont win!!

Is it possible that the operator is dangerous?

Post by **andysimpson** » 19 Oct 2007, 18:49

Andy syncro-nutz wrote:
andysimpson wrote: mine would be dangerous without permanent 4wd in the wet.

Car/van's are not dangerous in wet/dry/snow no matter the weather! It's ultimately and undenibly down to the operator to respect those condition the weather has dictated! Try taking on the weather! You wont win!!

Is it possible that the operator is dangerous?

The VC is very good at preventing serious over steer which happens when a decent engine is fitted, the "pooh" the factory fitted is fine. Mine will spin a front wheel when pushed on wet roads so without the vc that would be dangerous. The VC will also act as ABS.

Post by **Andy syncro-nutz** » 19 Oct 2007, 19:07

andysimpson wrote:Mine will spin a front wheel when pushed on wet roads so without the vc that would be dangerous. The VC will also act as ABS.

Keep digging!!

If you push any vehicle without due care and attetion/respect you will find it will give up on you regardless of Bhp and Tcs!

As for ABS

I would sugest this function works in a totaly different manner

Post by **andysimpson** » 19 Oct 2007, 19:17

Andy syncro-nutz wrote:
andysimpson wrote:Mine will spin a front wheel when pushed on wet roads so without the vc that would be dangerous. The VC will also act as ABS.

Keep digging!!

If you push any vehicle without due care and attetion/respect you will find it will give up on you regardless of Bhp and Tcs!

As for ABS I would sugest this function works in a totaly different manner

The vc will have an ABS effect if you break hard enough to get the point of locking a wheel you will hear the transmission back lash change direction.

I have no issues at all with the off road performance and i see no point in removing something that works extremely well on road which improves safety.

Post by **Andy syncro-nutz** » 19 Oct 2007, 19:28

We Should get an Abs discusion going another time?

Still cant suggest anything dangerous about our beloved vans! After all thers still a lot on the road!

And no matter all said it's the operator thats the danger!!

Website · Post by **syncrosimon** » 19 Oct 2007, 19:33

As a 19 year old some years ago (1989) I used to hoon around in my dads caravelle gl syncro, I had at the time a south african import 2wd caravelle. Both vehicles were fairly new then. The syncro was absolutely streets ahead in terms of safety, I could induce very easily a 4 wheel drift around a roundabout, and hold it, in the syncro. The 2wd would have the back end swinging out at the merest hint of traction loss.
Also with the braking I came to the conclusion after exhaustive testing as you do at that age, that the syncro is also much more stable under braking. I believe that the vc will stop one end from locking up before the other. If you are going around a bend the last thing that you want is for the rears to lock up as that will put you in a hedge.

However to discover these things you have to push it to the max. I have been to enough fatal accidents in my time to appreciate the fact that driving around like an old fart keeps you and the family safe. So i would never explore the boundaries of grip in my soon to be camper, and whether it is 2wd or 4wd dosent really come into it.

Being mechanically sympathetic I feel happier for the VW if her front end isnt at odds with her back end and so for that reason only I aim to fit a decoupler, just to keep the old girl happy.

Post by **peasant** » 19 Oct 2007, 20:13

syncrosimon wrote:... The syncro was absolutely streets ahead in terms of safety...
However to discover these things you have to push it to the max....

Pushing it to the max negates the safety margin (as you rightly pointed out) ...but it's a very handy thing to have (the margin, I mean) if and when the road / the weather springs a surprise on you just round or in the next bend. a surprise for which even your careful driving style is too fast.