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Sun Jun 01, 2025 3:11 pm

My 1984 Vanagon 4 speed has started to whine badly. Anyone know of a good rebuild shop in the Detroit area?

Sun Jun 01, 2025 9:56 pm

I understand the tendency to think locally but many (including me twice) have shipped transaxles to highly regarded rebuilders.

You may find that even with shipping costs you can get a better result at a lower price due to those specialty shops' experience, tools and access to parts.

Sun Jun 01, 2025 10:32 pm

A Vanagon gearbox that whines is really worn out.
You need a specialist.
You can't just change a few bearings.
Someone who really knows the Vanagon box needs to look at every part.

The Vanagon gearboxes need to be rebuilt while still quiet to have a long 2nd life.
Its really difficult to know when they need to be rebuilt.... before they make noise.
How could you know? You can't. And yet it's really important.
This knowledge is missing.
A lot of folks are in your same boat right now 'cuz the vans are old.
And Vanagon culture as been "you don't have to maintain the Vanagon gearbox", so they're all on death row.
Which is a shame.
Ya gotta maintain stuff especially components so important in your drivetrain..

MrGasRebuilds.com can give you an idea what a proper rebuild will cost and you can decide what you want to do.

If it's a nice, valuable van,
or if you are keeping the van for a long time,
or if you have a bigger engine,
......don't do a discount rebuild.
You'd have to ship your gearbox to Colorado.

Mon Jun 02, 2025 5:48 am

There are threads here on Samba for the clever ways people have boxed up their transmissions to safely get to the Rebuilder many states away from them.
Using a common Plastic Cooler as a packing box is one of them from what I've read.

Mon Jun 02, 2025 12:53 pm

No transaxle shops near Detroit that I can see from Van Alert, but there is a shop that works on Vanagons that may be able to diagnose and refer/ship your transaxle out for repair. Try Steve's European Automotive (https://www.steveseuropeanauto.com/).

Also, try the Van Alert app. It can give you names/locations of repair shops near your location. Saved my butt many times!

Tue Jun 03, 2025 5:20 am

Agree with the others. Should plan on shipping it for rebuild or exchange. Matt Steedle is on the east coast and seems very knowledgeable talking with him. I see these in the classifieds member VWJoe. I could not do one for his price. Haven’t seen any complaints. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=632625

Might be worth reaching out to him. Shipping has gotten so expensive, I did the last 2 myself. The special tools required were less than shipping and I can control quality. Not an option for everyone.