TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Mar 15, 2004 2:55 pm

Hello all,

I've been lurking on the board a while, checking things out. I bought a nice '68 Square in early February after looking for a few months. I ended up with a 99% stock/untouched car with only a little surface rust in a few spots (battery area only has surface rust, no signs of it ever being repaired).

I've had problems with the transmission since I got the car. It would pop out of second when shifting (I would put the clutch in to shift and barely touch the shifter and it would kick out of gear). I also have problems on occasion shifting into reverse. First thing I did was look into the linkage. I replaced the shift rod bushing and the linkage to the joint from the shift rod to the transmission. I was still having a problem with second and reverse.

Now for the real problem. One day while driving home, the clutch felt really strange. I started to get a lot of vibration and when I would push the clutch in, it felt like the cable or something was rubbing. Also, the clutch began to slip (While accelerating, power wasn't making it to the wheel). With the engine off the clutch feels fine. I pulled the engine to look at the clutch. The pressure plate wasn't even polished on the clutch side, it looked like new. The clutch looks almost new also, I can still read the numbers stamped on the clutch. The throwout bearing also looks very new. The shaft for the throwout bearing looks good also. I put it all back together and still have the same problem. Just for the heck of it I replaced the clutch cable with no change. Any ideas? Do you think something is really messed up in the tranmission or did I miss something?

Thanks

Mon Mar 15, 2004 5:11 pm

Quote: I've had problems with the transmission since I got the car. It would pop out of second when shifting (I would put the clutch in to shift and barely touch the shifter and it would kick out of gear). I also have problems on occasion shifting into reverse. First thing I did was look into the linkage. I replaced the shift rod bushing and the linkage to the joint from the shift rod to the transmission. I was still having a problem with second and reverse .

sounds like you may need to adjust your shifter, you did the right thing with the bushing and coupler and all. I have had good luck loosening the shifter base just enough for it to move ( with resistance) and putting the tranny in reverse.... then tighten it up an go for a run... a bit of sliding it around and you may get it to shift alot better.

Quote: Also, the clutch began to slip (While accelerating, power wasn't making it to the wheel). With the engine off the clutch feels fine. I pulled the engine to look at the clutch. The pressure plate wasn't even polished on the clutch side, it looked like new. The clutch looks almost new also, I can still read the numbers stamped on the clutch. The throwout bearing also looks very new. The shaft for the throwout bearing looks good also. I put it all back together and still have the same problem. Just for the heck of it I replaced the clutch cable with no change. Any ideas? Do you think something is really messed up in the tranmission or did I miss something?

This sounds like a "spun" rear hub... from the rear axle nut being too loose. have you checked the splines on the rear drums?

Mon Mar 15, 2004 8:58 pm

This sounds like a "spun" rear hub... from the rear axle nut being too loose. have you checked the splines on the rear drums?[/quote]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Check the axle nut first, then check the drive hub (behind the drum (but inside it).

Mon Mar 15, 2004 9:01 pm

If you do need a tranny I had a very good experience with transworks.com. The tech info on their site swayed me. Customer service and pricing were great. I would recommend getting seamless axle boots, axle flange gaskets, wheel bearing seals,(maybee wheel bearings) and rear tranny mounts. The front tranny mount they sent didn't fit was for a bug. I think the front mount for our cars is unavailable new. I must also add that replacing a swingaxle is the toughest mechanical job I've done on a VW.

Mon Mar 15, 2004 9:04 pm

P.S. Some of these symptoms sound like they could be from bad tranny mounts.