TheSamba.com :: View topic - CV boot problem with 'Frankenstein' '73 Thing

Sat Apr 07, 2012 6:13 pm

I need your help with a vexing puzzle. Or a puzzling enigma...

This AM I was successfully taking apart the axles on my '73 Type 181, which I have owned since 1992 and restored back when Clinton was President. Everything was going swimmingly well, since back in '93 I had taken them apart to grease 'em up and patch two holes in the inner (transaxle side) boots.

The purpose of this morning's repair was to finally replace the inner CV boots, since they have been leaking again, and I could afford new ones. Well, lo and behold, the new boots from The Thing Shop DO NOT FIT, they're a bit too large. Further inspaction revealed a few vexing things:

The inner CV joints and boots are smaller than the outer ones (which are the correct ones for my car)
The car has what I believe to be a Super-Beetle transaxle (case number 113 301 103L. However, It does have a '73 Thing engine
The inner boots are original VW parts, BUT the part number does not match anything I have been able to find (boots are stamped VW 115 501 151D)

I need your help figuring out what's the correct CV boot part number to order. It is a super-beetle CV joint?

Thanks from sunny Knoxville!

Sat Apr 07, 2012 6:19 pm

Welcome aboard! This is one of the best places for info on your car. The people on here are second to none when it comes to knowledge and willingness to help. If I were a betting man, I'd bet you've got a bug transaxle and someone has used bug cv joints on the inners and 181 joints on the outers. The outer cv's are larger than the inners correct? Both should be the size of the larger cv joints. Bug cv's don't have as much "travel" as 181 joints either. I'm pretty new to things, but this is my best guess. Good luck!

Sun Apr 08, 2012 1:36 am

Deckard wrote: case number 113 301 103L.
That's the part number of the empty trans case. A Type 181 uses the exact same case as a Beetle, so they share the same part number.
You need to look at the trans code, stamped into the case on the flat pad about 1½" below the part number you already found.

It is very likely that you do have a Beetle gearbox with it's smaller CV joints. You could just buy Beetle CV boots, or, now that you have some $$$, buy 2 Type 181/Type 4/944 CV joints and a pair of Type 181 trans drive flanges to put your car back to stock.

Sun Apr 08, 2012 9:26 am

Welcome Deckard!! See ya on the road soon!!!

Mon Apr 09, 2012 7:58 am

Thanks for the prompt responses and the warm welcome. More than likely I will keep the VW beetle boots and CV joints, and wait until I can find a good set of VW Thing transaxle flanges.

The "other number" stamped on the transmission is

AL 15 11

Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:46 pm

Does your gearbox have one or two side covers?
Can you post a pic of the trans code you just mentioned?

Wed Apr 11, 2012 2:05 pm

I can't seem to be able to post images, but it looks like this

A L 15 11