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78 Bus Transaxle rebuild
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otiswesty
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 09, 2016 6:07 pm    Post subject: 78 Bus Transaxle rebuild Reply with quote

Looking to rebuild my 091 transaxle while the motor is out of the bus. I have gotten quotes from German Transaxle in Bend as well as Rancho. Looking for feedback on either vendor. German Transaxle is a little more expensive, but relatively local to me.
I am considering a LSD as well even though it would double the cost.

The gear box has 252K miles on it and drives pretty well. It has a bit of a whine, but shifts and drive well other wise right now. Should I just reseal it or would a full rebuild be a better idea?
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airschooled
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 09, 2016 6:29 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 Bus Transaxle rebuild Reply with quote

VW transaxles can last for a long, long time if kept up on fluids and cared for mechanically. If you take your time making precise and gentle shifts, a gallon of Sta-Lube GL-4 from Napa could be all you'll need for a while.

On the flip side, parts are getting rarer and rarer. The quality of rebuilds will only go down as good German parts dry up.

My Rancho rebuild is decent enough, and they have a five year warranty. Unlimited miles. And I do A LOT of miles.

Robbie
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SGKent Premium Member
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 09, 2016 10:22 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 Bus Transaxle rebuild Reply with quote

yes you will need to have it rebuilt because the heat on 4th gear will have melted the 4th gear plastic bearing race, capturing the needle bearings and trashing the shaft. Just went thru it last year and to my surprise that shaft is mostly NLA and some vendors had 1200 transmissions backed up waiting for one.

The only person I would trust these days is Eric at Transworks in El Cajon, CA. Shipping from NorCal via GSO (Golden State Overnight) is the cheapest but they don't ship out of Portland OR. I sent an 091 case to LA via UPS/FedEx etc and it was $125 2 day. Coming back was overnight GSO and it cost $35.

A LSD on snow and ice in a bus could be a how did that happen moment. In all other conditions one would not have enough power to break a bus free unless you are putting in a big water cooled motor in which case the gearing on the 091 might need to be changed.

You can see the ridges worn by the captured bearing (dark lines inside 4th gear when the plastic bearing carriers melted which is almost 100% common from what I am told. Bearings are in the 2nd photo. When they melt the needles stop turning and that causes the wear.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


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Hoody
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 09, 2016 11:24 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 Bus Transaxle rebuild Reply with quote

Well then I guess the good news is that these companies that rely on this NLA shaft have 1200 trannies waiting to be rebuilt there will be a machinist somewhere in this country who will fulfill their orders.
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Bleyseng
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 10, 2016 7:39 am    Post subject: Re: 78 Bus Transaxle rebuild Reply with quote

If it's whinning then rebuild it as the main shaft bearings are sloppy. LSD is nice in the rain or snow especially hills.
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otiswesty
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 10, 2016 5:13 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 Bus Transaxle rebuild Reply with quote

After reviewing some other threads and getting an opinion from Lucas at GoWesty, I decided to go with the Peloquin 091 torque biasing differential and have the work done at German Transaxle in Bend.

I will follow up after it is all back together and on the road.
Very Happy
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 10, 2016 6:49 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 Bus Transaxle rebuild Reply with quote

otiswesty wrote:
After reviewing some other threads and getting an opinion from Lucas at GoWesty, I decided to go with the Peloquin 091 torque biasing differential and have the work done at German Transaxle in Bend.

I will follow up after it is all back together and on the road.
Very Happy


before you pull the trigger on anything you might want to PM Paul (Gears) about a LSD. He is the guru on that here on the samba. He is more over in the Syncro area rather than in the Bay forum. His info is below.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2757
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otiswesty
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 9:21 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 Bus Transaxle rebuild Reply with quote

The Peloquin diff in the 091 feels about the same on the road. I am considering driving it down to Syncrofest. I would like to air it down and see how it does on Truck Hill at Hollister SVRA. I have driven my Syncro all over those hills. The high clearance of the bus could make most of the trails there doable.

Nice and quiet though, but too late to do much snow and winter driving now.
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otiswesty
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 11:58 am    Post subject: Re: 78 Bus Transaxle rebuild Reply with quote

Before new years, we had a couple inches of snow followed by a freezing rain glaze. The neighborhood looked amazing, but the streets were a total nightmare. The AWD Volvos were staying home.

I have studded Nokians on my bus and the result is amazing. There is a street by my house that was smooth ice and 32 degree wet drizzle going on a modest hill. All kinds of SUVs with electronic traction control and siped tires were bailing and I was able to drive up in the bus going around a sideways ML500.
Pretty stoked Very Happy
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timvw7476
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 3:20 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 Bus Transaxle rebuild Reply with quote

Nice bus traction story!
Please don't be that guy driving on those studs come April Fool's Day.
Hate those guys.
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Goge
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PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 4:19 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 Bus Transaxle rebuild Reply with quote

Otiswesty, were you happy with GTA?
I have my transaxle being worked on right now by them. I went with them because we spend alot of time in Bend and I thought I'd go "local". They've been courteous and knowledgable, but the rubber hasn't hit the road yet.
-TH
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Hoody
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 12:45 pm    Post subject: Re: 78 Bus Transaxle rebuild Reply with quote

And for anyone who was concerned that their 091 tranny was doomed due to the unobtanium mainshaft....Weddle now makes 2 versions of this shaft both of which according to them are superior to the original.
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