Busted rear drive flange

[majordyRule]

Hey all,

First post here as a new T25 owner to ask for a bit of your collective wisdom

Had my first breakdown the other day: heard knocking from the rear, pulled over and jiggled driveshaft (but as a newbie didnt realise just how jiggly it was), drove another 10 miles: bolts so loose that drive shaft and cv joint disconnected from outer drive flange.

I'm calling the 'thing' the outer drive flange, it connects to the rear wheel shaft. Basically this bit:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Bus-T3-Gea ... 46499eacd4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With the cv joint and drive shaft off I noticed that 1 bolt is bent (probably the last to go) and that it has deformed past of the drive flange. I also noticed that another bolt I had assumed missing altogether had actually sheared off in the drive flange.

Has anyone had experience of something similar and can advise on the best course of action, I also couldn't find find a new drive flange part on Just Kampers or Brickwerks, just the one above on ebay or this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vw-t25-rear-s ... 41b0bc34a3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks in advance,

Mark
PS the bus in question is an 82 Holsworth Diesel 1.6 - yep i'm that guy, always with my own personal tail back

[Aidan]

chances are you will be able to remove the remains of the bolts if you take the flange off the gearbox - the cap in the centre has to be prised out, small screwdriver down the side and there's a horseshoe type circlip to remove and if it is hard to pull off the diff then a couple of long m8 bolts through a couple of the undamaged threads will allow you to push the flange off, and attend to the stubs, they usually turn out ok and chase the threads with a tap and check they will torque up ok
£45 for a used flange is strong money but since a speedisleeve repair for the seal surface is £30+ so as long as the seal surface is good then it's fair and I don't have any good ones for sale myself they are all getting worn now
new circlip everytime for refitting, I can supply that as can VW for a lot less than Heritage or JK ask for it, you can't actually fully fit it with circlip pliers, just get it on end of shaft then compress with 32mm socket and impact to compress the spring washer and seat the circlip, pin down side of cap when pushing back in

[majordyRule]

Thanks for the quick reply Aiden, sorry I'm talking about the flange at the outer end of the driveshaft that connects the outer CV joint to the wheel shaft, not to the gearbox. Is it the same unit as you describe like with inner and outer cv joints?

I'm pretty sure the flange is stuffed, the bolt that bent (not the sheared off one) has badly messed up the thread and deformed the hole its supposed to use so I think its probably a replacement

Cheers

[majordyRule]

STUB AXLE!! that is the 'drive flange thing' i'm trying to describe: http://www.coastvw.co.uk/t25-stub-axle" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sorry for the confusion, think I can source a second hand one for cheaper than above tho