TheSamba.com :: View topic - Porsche 944 axles and 944 CV's for Vanagons

Sat Feb 06, 2016 12:32 pm

Jon_slider wrote: 4x4BNB wrote: So for now, my stock sized lobro cv's should work with 944 axles? Then I f I need to later, I can replace my cv's with 944 cv's?

true, yes, stock Syncro CVs fit 944 axles, be sure you get the ones with the correct 33 spline count, Im not well versed on which years Porsche matches, but 87 Porsche 944 Axles and CVs are correct.

My info came from tdwesty, verify with him if you have questions about sourcing Porsche axles

When tdwesty sourced my Porsche 944 axles, used from a junkyard, he marked the driver side and passenger side before removing them, so that we (he actually) could install them on the same side on my syncro, to avoid reversing the twist direction of the axle.

Couple of questions

#1: Are these a direct swap?

#2: If so, what year Porsche?

I've noticed that there's an early & late style (see below)

Cheers.

early

http://www.ebay.com/itm/391272995260

late

http://www.ebay.com/itm/391375478448

Sat Feb 06, 2016 1:07 pm

What you are looking for are the late '85 through '86 all, '87 through '89 non-Turbo and non-S2 axles (S2 only pplies to '89 - up I believe). These will be the 33 spline, 21.25" long axles. Once you have those axle, you can run any of the 100mm, 33 spline CV joints from or applicable 944.

The other axles are either too short (16"ish) or have a 25mm spline.

Sat Feb 06, 2016 1:45 pm

Christopher Schimke wrote: What you are looking for are the late '85 through '86 all, '87 through '89 non-Turbo and non-S2 axles (S2 only pplies to '89 - up I believe). These will be the 33 spline, 21.25" long axles. Once you have those axle, you can run any of the 100mm, 33 spline CV joints from or applicable 944.

The other axles are either too short (16"ish) or have a 25mm spline.

So it looks like the early axles are correct - provided is has the 33 splines.

tjet wrote: ...

early

http://www.ebay.com/itm/391272995260

...

I counted 8 splines on 1/4 of the axle end.

Thanks. I'll ask the seller to confirm the length before i hit the buy button. Will let you know

Tue Sep 19, 2017 9:13 am

I know the spline's are different, but if you look at the GKN catalog, the axle length is the same for 944 and 951/944 turbo axles. The CV's for the 951/944T have 25 splines and larger balls, but is the articulation so poor that they won't work in a vanagon? How does one measure the articulation angle? I screwed up and ordered 2 951 axles, hence the question.

Thu Feb 15, 2018 10:38 am

It looks like it's been a while since this thread had a visit. I'm running stock 108mm syncro 16 on my DoKa. I have on hand qty (4) 930 CV's and would like to know what axle would work for my application. I know that the stock axles are too long. After spending much time reading here, I only see complete assemblies. Where can I just buy the correct length axles for my Doka using 930 cv's? And what is the length of the shorter axels?
Thanks
Tony

Tue Oct 16, 2018 5:34 pm

Lordy am I confused. Just read this thread and my mind is boggled!

I have a lifted 2WD Westy needing new CV joints.

I was thinking of buying the Van-Cafe 944 joints with Rockford boots, and use my original shafts.

Is this a good idea?

Mike
'82 Westy Diesel AAZ

Tue Oct 16, 2018 5:43 pm

Yes, that is the right thing as long as your axle shafts are original German ones.

Mark

Sun Oct 21, 2018 2:17 pm

Since someone mentioned Burley Motorsports earlier in this thread.
I Thought I'd contribute by mentioning that Burley Motorsports is now able to help the 944 fans.
After 3 years of testing we now have high quality reasonably priced 944 complete axle assemblies as well as separate cv joints , boots and an bare single axles for those that want to build their own assemblies.
We are now offering 4340 Chromoly custom length axles for the Subaru gears conversion folks as well.

Thu May 16, 2019 9:30 am

I just put new GKN joints on my stock shafts. For the past two cross country trips, I have had two cv joint failures. The first was a new set of Empis that stranded me in Virginia where the second set, remanufactured ‘German’ ones were fitted by an experienced shop. Those lasted 7000 miles. All that time, my stock shafts sat in my garage awaiting my attention.
I’m about to go on another cross country trip riding on the set of rebuilds installed in SLC after the ‘German’ ones failed. They look good and make no noise and the installer was top notch. Should I try and carry my spares on this trip? I want to go about 7000 miles again.
I also saw this video about clocking cv joints. It was news to me and may not apply to my stock 2wd vanagon, but I did it anyway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unBUhRf8MB0

Thu May 16, 2019 10:10 am

johnbyrdgates wrote: I just put new GKN joints on my stock shafts. For the past two cross country trips, I have had two cv joint failures. The first was a new set of Empis that stranded me in Virginia where the second set, remanufactured ‘German’ ones were fitted by an experienced shop. Those lasted 7000 miles. All that time, my stock shafts sat in my garage awaiting my attention.
I’m about to go on another cross country trip riding on the set of rebuilds installed in SLC after the ‘German’ ones failed. They look good and make no noise and the installer was top notch. Should I try and carry my spares on this trip? I want to go about 7000 miles again.
John

Probably not a bad idea to carry at least one . Safe travels.

Thu May 16, 2019 11:49 am

agreed, I always carry 1 CV joint as if needed any service shop should be able to get me back on the road. (if not myself).

Fri Jun 21, 2019 6:00 pm

We apologize in advance if this post offends anyone. On the other hand I've never seen any Volkswagen owner get upset about saving money lol
But I'm sure it won't make any of my competitors happy either Ha
That said :

Burley Motorsports bought an entire pallet load of Genuine GKN Lobro 944 cv joint kits includes , cv joint, boot, grease, bolts ,snap ring etc , you know the kit.
We are passing the saving onto you.
This is cheaper than the big wholesale house prices.
We also now have brand new Vanagon axle shafts to mount these joints onto.

https://burleymotorsports.net/?s=944&post_type=product

Tue Jul 09, 2019 5:23 pm

I've just installed the 944 kit axles on my 2wd Suby 2.5l with a go westy 1.5" lift. Is this lift too high for the articulation of the 944? Hoping someone has logged some miles with a similar setup to know if it blows the joints or not.

Tue Jul 09, 2019 5:56 pm

tarandusVDub wrote: I've just installed the 944 kit axles on my 2wd Suby 2.5l with a go westy 1.5" lift. Is this lift too high for the articulation of the 944? Hoping someone has logged some miles with a similar setup to know if it blows the joints or not.

My stock CV joints started making noise after 1.5" gowesty lift. I soon bought 944 CV joints. No more noise after that. I just replaced the joints and kept the stock axles.

Tue Jul 09, 2019 7:18 pm

that's good to hear. I was just told that any lift over an inch would grenade the joints. Hopefully that is not the case.

Tue Jul 09, 2019 7:20 pm

"Why 944 CVs? Because they allow for higher CV/axle angles before binding compared to the stock Vanagon CV joints. This is important with lifted 2wds and Syncros. Lifting can put the stock CVs in a bind which results in premature failure. 944 CVs can help prevent this."

-Christopher at T3 Technique

http://www.t3technique.com/suspension-and-drivetra...t-kit.html

Tue Jul 09, 2019 9:03 pm

burleymotorsports wrote: We apologize in advance if this post offends anyone. On the other hand I've never seen any Volkswagen owner get upset about saving money lol
But I'm sure it won't make any of my competitors happy either Ha
That said :

Burley Motorsports bought an entire pallet load of Genuine GKN Lobro 944 cv joint kits includes , cv joint, boot, grease, bolts ,snap ring etc , you know the kit.
We are passing the saving onto you.
This is cheaper than the big wholesale house prices.
We also now have brand new Vanagon axle shafts to mount these joints onto.

https://burleymotorsports.net/?s=944&post_type=product

Dang it!
I just bought some of your other joints at the beginning of June.
I would have gladly paid the extra for the real deal.
Poop!
I have not installed them yet if that matters.

EDIT: I do like the looks of the boots more on the ones I bought.

Mon Apr 13, 2020 11:10 am

Doing a search I did not come up with an answer so thought this seemed the appropriate thread to ask the question.

I have just replaced the front original inner CV's on my Syncro with Lobro 944's. In doing so I noticed that the 944's are about 2mm wider than the stock CV. That appears to be the norm.

What concerns me is that as I was bolting the CV back up to the output flange with the original spacer in place, the bolt only went a little more than half way through the flange. From what I have read the 50mm bolt (which is what I have and used my caliper to verify) is what is used. Not happy with the depth of thread penetration I picked up a 55mm long bolt and it was just sticking out the back of the output flange as what I suspect would be proper depth.

My question is what length bolts are you all using that have changed to 944 front inner on the Syncro and did you keep the spacer?

My second concern- Am I losing 2mm of axle play with the 2mm wider CV or will the axle still have enough play when the suspension is compressed?

My Syncro is not lifted at the moment but since I was replacing original CV's anyway I thought I would anticipate for added travel with a lift in the future and go with the 944's.

Mon Apr 13, 2020 11:31 am

Does it get at least 6 threads in? That's SAE standard IIRC. I couldn't find the paper, but I recall an SAE study that said something like 50% of torque is held by the first thread, 30% the second, 15% the third, and the remaining threads hold the rest. Six threads is to ensure it goes in straight and true and provide extra area if a thread strips. The SAE study had pretty cool graphics showing the torque break down, maybe someone else has seen it and has it bookmarked.

Mon Apr 13, 2020 11:58 am

CoolCampin wrote: My question is what length bolts are you all using that have changed to 944 front inner on the Syncro and did you keep the spacer?

My second concern- Am I losing 2mm of axle play with the 2mm wider CV or will the axle still have enough play when the suspension is compressed...

Did you check the original axle movement (plunge) before pulling them? I went with his 930 kit, front and rear