Got symptoms need a cause

[ORCoaster]

I had the Rabbit out for an afternoon run today and there was a noticable vibration coming from somewhere as I accelerated away from one of the lights downtown.  Not sure if I would call the motion of the car side to side or up and down but it was moving.  The steering wheel also had this wiggle to it so first thing I thought of was I have a tire that let go. 

Well got it home and pulled both front tires and no visible issues.  Before I yanked them I tried the shake test on them to see if front bearings were the issue.  Nope. Solid on both sides. 

I twisted the tires front to back and they move about an inch of rim.  Too much play in the differential?
I crawled up underneath with a crow bar and everything on the wishbones are tight, the ball joints are good and there is one axle boot on the passengers side that appears to be collapsing but is not leaking.  Got a new axle on the drivers side a bit ago.  CV Joint seems solid.  Not a click or a wiggle when holding the axle tight and rotate the wheel.

The only thing I saw that disturbed me was on that passenger side axle the flange seems to move up and down if you pry on the axle itself.  The drivers side does not do that.

So has anyone been down this road and can tell me if I need to replace an axle or a transmission?  Steering is manual and does not seem to be affected.  It seems to show the symptoms without being the cause. 

Give me your best thoughts.   Well at this point in the game anythought will do.  Thanks DAS

[theman53]

I am sorry I have no clue what an inch of rim is? Or what that test is?

[8v-of-fury]

Do you have everything under the passenger side axle flange? The brass piece and the thrust washer dealio?

The rotation of tire that makes you think there is wear in the differential because the other tire doesn't react immediately? I dunno if it matter that these are a completely open diff? lol

[ORCoaster]

I have never touched this part of the transmission.  So unless they completely ground away over the last couple of years I would assume them to be in there. 

theman53.  If I take the edge of the tire and move it front to back and look from underneath as I was laying down there napping anyway.  I can pick a point on the rim, an oil spot say, and note that the spot only moves about an inch front to back.  I know all diffs need some amount of play but is that too much.  The axle movement is so small it is hard to gauge the amount of movement.

So the movement is from clunk to clunk with the transmission in first, other wheel touching the ground so it doesn't move.   

You never done this test?  Obviously not napping enough under the oil pan. 

Keep thinking, stop drinking.  DAS

[burn_your_money]

If the axle flange is moving up and down it's probably time to start looking for a new transmission. It could just be that the flange itself has worn out and needs to be replaced. I've seen that a few times.

[CRSMP5]

they all wiggle some.. but i bet that inner joint id dry... pull it to see if any balls rusty color... bet one or 2 are... exhaust cooks it grease...


the flange.. if it not leaking fluid.. it is no worry... now if it was dumpinggear oil.. you getthe idea..

[ORCoaster]

OK, sounds like more time under the car for me.  Best get a good night or two of rest before next weekend.  Might just pull the whole axle and see about adding more lube to the CV joint as well.  Make it a worthwhile project right? 

Not looking to redo the trans.  only 138K on it.  FF 5spd. 

CRSMP5   is it much trouble to pull those flanges?  I bet I need new seals to do that.  Time for interwebz shopping. 

Thanks, and any other tips to the trouble? 

[8v-of-fury]

You might as well go ahead and check out a peloquins 40/80% kit.

It comes with the tool to get the flange off, the seals.. and the kit to add the mini-LSD.

[burn_your_money]

It's very easy to remove the flange. The tool you need to compress the spring behind the flange is also quite simple to make. I haven't checked but www.brokevw.com probably has a great DIY on it.

[ORCoaster]

Spent some time on BrokeVW site.  This does not look like a repair that will be done in the car.  Just need to compress those flanges down to get the circlip off.  Can't see doing that laying down. 

And to think I just did a clutch repair last winter. 

I think I have the green seals on the passenger side so I am going to sneak a peek on the drivers and see what I can see.  Hopefully not another mountian. 

Thanks for the tips.  Might have to look into that shim kit.  It could be a blessing in the snow some day. 

DAS

[CRSMP5]

ff is too old to be spring loaded... it is NOMRAL to wiggle and non spring loaded ones wiggle even more.... if it is pissing gear oil is it a issue if not do not worry bout it....

pre green seal too...

screw them shim kits.... biggest joke ever imo... take tranny/diff apart.. you will see what they are doing.. and imo no way any good for a tranny...

[theman53]

It sounds like you just jacked a tire up and are rotating it until the gear lash stops it in each direction? If so what you have sounds normal. I am sure I have tested in the way you are describing but I have no idea what it is, if the above isn't it. If you could post a video of what you are talking about I might be able to see it.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

Yeah  OR you gotta stop drinking when you post lol. I read it 3 times and I still don't know what the hell you're talking about lol.

 I cobblef up a flange puller/ install tool when I did the AVX to ACN swap....worked great. I'll see if I can find some pics.

[ORCoaster]

Here's a secret.  It doesn't take drink to make me silly as snot.  Maybe it is the salt air all the time.  Just the way I R.

[8v-of-fury]

All the shim kit does is push harder on the brass wear ring a little harder to get a little more traction through the trans.

It is not a LSD, or a Locker.. but it does do what is intended. But I do believe the pre 84 trannies are exempt from the shim kits though