Montana help? please.

[Tjsean0308]

Made it to Bozeman from the seattle area in my 82 rabbit 1.6l NA. Need to get back to Port Angeles next week.  The trip was going good until I got a pretty bad vibration, turns out its the driverside drive flange on the transaxle is loose. Does anyone know a VW shop in the Bozeman area or off I-90 between here and ID?  I probably could get a trans swap done with the tools I have, but a new spring and flange would be better. I'm at the mother in laws for a visit so this really couldn't be much worse timing I can't spend all my leave fixing this car. I need help, any help at all.

[bajacalal]

Yeah, there is Brax Euro Parts in Divide, Montana (406) 267-3321. That information is from Google, I've never gone there, OK, but I actually bought my car from a guy who apparently used to work there and I remember the name.

[bbob203]

Dude my battery died in bozeman 5 hours after I bought my First mk2 in Idaho.

[Tjsean0308]

I will check out brax that's within striking distance to me. And im sorry to make this my first post, I am really in the *** here.

[CRSMP5]

diff spider gear or bearings shot... the thing the flange goes on will no way wear out... so flange will not either... but other end of flange shaft is cliped to spider gear... there is no movement unless the spider cracks... or the clip fell off inside the drive flange... that means low oil and ruined diff bearings now..

your goin to need a tranny..

[Tjsean0308]

Definitely not leaking oil, I checked that as soon as I noticed.  I need to pull the CV shaft and see if the flange is loose on the stub or if the stub is loose in the case.  But you are probably right its probably trash. 

Keep the info coming. Thanks

[CRSMP5]

no tranny oil leak by flang??? if not nothing wrong with the flange or anything then... you have vad cv joint, like inner pass side by exhaust has baked by exhaust grease from your trip.. that bind transfers thru the diff pin and makes that flange wiggle... they all wiggle some..

[Tjsean0308]

I know what a bad CV joint looks like, this is not a bad CV joint. The shaft and flange are nice and tight just the flange to the trans is loose.  belive me I wish it was just a CV joint. I am surprised that this thing isn't leaking but its not. Its loose enough it defies logic that its not leaking but plenty of oil in the trans and a super loose flange.

Thanks for the ideas keep them coming I appreciate them.

[bbob203]

possibly its not leaking because its empty?

[Tjsean0308]

I should clarify, when I said I checked if it was leaking I meant I checked the fluid level. Its full, and not leaking. I got hooked up with a local rabbit nut here in bozeman off the vortex. Headed to his shop in a bit going to pull the flange and see whats what.

Thanks for the ideas.

[Tjsean0308]

Well it seems like there is a little bit of play in the bearings and a little in the flange and a little in the CV shaft which all adds up to just enough to scare me. Going to put a new CV shaft (you were somewhat right CRSMP5) and a new seal and Circlip because that's just smart to do that at the same time. And roll it back to Port Angeles.

Thanks again for the ideas

[CRSMP5]

your going to leve it hang with a somewhat??? thats not right..

my suggestion on that jpoint is only due to look like new from outside.. grease solid w/rusty balls inside... seen it happen.. the downpipe cooks it.. common on 90mm joints vs 100mm too..

but somewhat right.. help us out..

id not touch the seal unless you took flange off... they 1 time use.. they always leak once flange removed.. made changing that seal manditory after 2 100mm clutch jobs burned me long ago.. 90mm till that point never had seal issues as did not remove those.. 100mm you got to..

all the diffs wiggle some.. does not mean bad bearing... if bearing was bad.. trust me you would hear it.. or it will leak... your dry.. no leak... not the issue... or a issue.. so relax on that..

but glad you got her figured out.. dont like the dicks on poortex.. so since they banned me still not rejoined..

[CRSMP5]

just saw your post over there... broke on many month back up... someone asked me other day why i not competing for his business.. im like cannot be that much for 9mo back log...

so i talked to a few.. may understand why now... but till i talk to him will not understand the backlog...

im also trying to understand cryo and his 500$ price.. included in that?? or not.. why i need to talk to him... i do not wanna rob from him.. but am willing to do it for less for lack of cryo or beadblasting... i cannot live with myself if he not including that stuff in the price..

but since i guy telling you not to worry bout it... but you are willing to spend that kinda money... i really need to take up the slack..

i do dropped off ones for 250+parts... but im not cryo things, beadblasting.. show car.. i would for added fees.. but to strip, clean rebuild so on.. i can do 4 a week in 3 days and make over 40k a year... why my whole broke being backed up just how??? then i hear he cryos them all and can do 1 a week.. ok.. 9x4=27.. ok..  i can see the back up.. but still id find 4 other cryo places so i can do 5 a week..

vibrating heated cleaner i bet i can do 2 a day... thats hours saved on cleaning...

i too am in ohio.. and honestly never looked at brokes' page till i was asked 3 days ago.. abt a 02a rebuild.. and 020, broke came up..

bbob and theman abt to do their 1st rebuild with me as supervisor..   on bbob'd eco.. has bearing out.. sounds like 20s ford when you shift into 2nd.. and howels on up from there.. they watched me take the last one apart.. its not a "hard" job.. attention is a must.. clean is too.. done way tooo many over the years.. id do them all the time as its a nice job... just not many willing to fix their cars...

so again.. im serious.. unless the flange is leaking oil.. there is no issue.. it is allowed to wiggle.. they all do.. and usually till axle bolted on you do not notice it.. if there was too much slop.. it would leak..

[8v-of-fury]

if there was too much slop.. it would leak..

Yup, its only a sprung lipped rubber seal like many other in the trans/engine.. If it really moved or was an issue it would leak.

The flanges are only a loose slide on fit to a spline shaft and being held on by a cir-clip. They ALL wiggle.

[Tjsean0308]

Pulled the seal and the flange so I could inspect for play in the bearing. The bearing is tight as can be, the play is between the stub shaft and the inner race. I put the new CV shaft on, new circlip and seals. Ran it all the way back to port angeles with no issues. The old CV shaft felt the same as the new one just a  slight click at certain angles but not loose or anything. I would never imagine that CV was bad, not sure if it was most of the issue or just some but its good to go now much smoother at 55 and beyond.