Syncro 4&4 Discussion and Q&A last answered over 2 years ago.
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Actually at wales we were talking about VCs with aidan and that on their way out they can work erraticcally, also their life is only meant too be around 160k or somewhere near that so if it has high mileage it points to it . On the plus side aidan is trying to get a batch out to walter pretty soon so should be a bit cheaper than norm
See what Russel reckons, he knows the most about unusual behaviour of VCs in sand
I'm sending two cores to Switzerland today, for which I have customers; Jed if you want one let me know and I'll send the other two out. Looks like Baxter will be able to stock them shortly
[quote]a trip to the pub at Rhewl may be in order
AIDAN - Full Gearbox Rebuilds for 4, 5 speed and Syncro front and rear available
1988 Syncro Sunroof MultiBus
Syncronaut member #8 and DoDoka Project Leader : )
01925 495351
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...to see if James Joyce wrote anything about VC's in his memoirs........
Go on ya good thing
syncropaddy wrote:I think that they need to get up to a working temperature before they really start to work properly. Isnt there information on Jagers English site about this?
Not from my experience. My driveway is rather steep, washed out and lately also icey. Front wheels start gripping after much less than one full revolution of the rears ...even first thing in the morning at -5 C.
VC has recently been replaced with a refurb after the old one got too stiff in corners.
They can start to fail open if they are pushed too hard in soft sand. When my van was in the Sahara, there was a deep section I got stuck in, the rear wheels were spinning and had no traction at the front - this was a new VW VC with only 30k on it. Hasn't failed anywhere else since - just that one time, too much weight, with water and supplies - the TDi had the power to spin the rears, but the VC just couldn't keep up with the force required to turn the fronts. The other two vans had engageable 4wd with billet shaft - they drove through...
Different as yours is from cold - we will have to have a play in the ice ...that westy gets less cheap every week
I know, tell me about it I have been out on the green lanes today and it works fine now i think. Bloody confusing these VC joints. Neils front wheels seemed to spin alot easyer tough but i was wondering if that was due to more rear end traction as he had mud tyres. When i didnt activate a rear diff lock and one rear wheel was spinning i was going no where. I pm'd The Love Mussel so hopfully he can shed some light on it too.
syncroand101 wrote:They can start to fail open if they are pushed too hard in soft sand. When my van was in the Sahara, there was a deep section I got stuck in, the rear wheels were spinning and had no traction at the front - this was a new VW VC with only 30k on it. Hasn't failed anywhere else since - just that one time, too much weight, with water and supplies - the TDi had the power to spin the rears, but the VC just couldn't keep up with the force required to turn the fronts.
This is a similar story to what happened to Dave in the snow yesterday. Lost drive to the front in deep snow/ice when someone else was driving it. His VC was a new unit - not a refurb. Seems to be ok now.
syncroand101 wrote:They can start to fail open if they are pushed too hard in soft sand. When my van was in the Sahara, there was a deep section I got stuck in, the rear wheels were spinning and had no traction at the front - this was a new VW VC with only 30k on it. Hasn't failed anywhere else since - just that one time, too much weight, with water and supplies - the TDi had the power to spin the rears, but the VC just couldn't keep up with the force required to turn the fronts.
This is a similar story to what happened to Dave in the snow yesterday. Lost drive to the front in deep snow/ice when someone else was driving it. His VC was a new unit - not a refurb. Seems to be ok now.
It was doing the same when i saw him in Wales, maybe they dont like the cold.
A working VC will be tight when cold and looses power transferee when at operating temperature. It then will stiffen up when temperature is increased.
Sand has a far greater resistance than snow and will therefore work your VC a lot harder.
The fact that most of us are also using bigger very aggressive tires and more powerful engines dosent help as they are beyond VW's design spec.
It is a well known fact that the VC is not very good in soft sand and thats why most of the sand traveling crew opt for a decoupler and billet shaft. From the little info i have come across all the syncros that were sent new to the middle east were set up this way.
Jed the best way to tell is to do the 2X4 test but take the van for a good run first to get it up to operating temp. Not a stop start run in traffic.
Russel
Just watched your vid Jed and i would say your VC is not very happy there . That sand looks whet and not soft and your drive train is definitely not being stressed.
If you are planing on doing a lot of traveling with your van i would consider other options.
Russel
Best sell some stuff and get a new one then. Its been ok in the snow today but i guess its a warning i will need one before a big trip etc. What are your thoughts on this today, obviously the difflocks were not on but shouldnt the front wheels have kicked in?
I have been out on the green lanes today and it works fine now i think. Bloody confusing these VC joints. Neils front wheels seemed to spin alot easyer tough but i was wondering if that was due to more rear end traction as he had mud tyres. When i didnt activate a rear diff lock and one rear wheel was spinning i was going no where. I pm'd The Love Mussel so hopfully he can shed some light on it too.
. That sand looks whet and not soft and your drive train is definitely not being stressed.
