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tim_ha
Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2012
Posts: 192
Location: Estes Park, CO
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 Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 5:33 pm Post subject: Transmission advice needed - output flange end play |
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Hello transmission gurus,
I am writing from a small mountain town in Colombia (South America). I am on a pan-american trip with my girlfriend in our '86 Syncro EJ22. After having some CV related problems, I pulled my rear driver side axle and rebuilt the sticky and somewhat questionable CV. I am hoping it will last until a friend is able to bring a new CV from the States.
This brings me to the problem I discovered and would like advice on. When I was bolting the transmission side CV back up, I noticed that the axle flange on the drivers side has some significant play. I am able to wiggle the flange up and down about an 1/8th of an inch  This is, of course, the side that is leaking a bit of transmission oil.
I have noticed and been trying to find the cause of a sort of whine that is heard mainly in third and forth gears (a bit in second) when on the gas. I think that this may be related to the end play that I have now discovered.
I have just ordered a new output flange seal, cap, concentric washer, and lock ring for a friend to bring us in Ecuador. I am hoping that the play is in the splines between the output flange and shaft, but am trying to prepare for the worst.
Any thoughts on the best/worst case scenarios here? Are there any additional parts that I should be ordering? Are there any tests I can do without opening up the trans to determine what the problem might be?
As always, thanks for the help.
_________________
1986 Syncro Sunroof EJ22
www.subagonsouth.com |
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atomatom
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2012
Posts: 1867
Location: in an 84 Westy or Bowen Island, BC
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| Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 6:41 am Post subject: |
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You already knew it, but sounds bad. I'm not a transmission expert, but that sounds like the bearings that hold the flange are shot. I don't think it should have any play at all.
Perhaps it is as simple as new bearings - there are several gear experts here who can probably help more.
Just to check though; are you moving the metal flange rather than the plastic thing around the flange. That plastic is held on by two screws (hard to find, so careful not to strip/mangle them). The plastic bit would be an easy fix.
_________________
84 Vanagon Westy, 1.9L, California raised but defected to Canada. |
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Waldi
Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2014
Posts: 1752
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 7:11 am Post subject: |
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Some "play" on the drivers side is normal.
The normal play coming not from the bearing, its coming from inside the differential. |
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tim_ha
Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2012
Posts: 192
Location: Estes Park, CO
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| Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies!
So, how much play is normal? To be clear, we are talking about vertical play, not in and out(end) play of the metal output flange which interfaces the differential side gears.
I did a little more investigating and now think it may be one of three things...
1. Normal differential play.
2. Play between the differential side gear and the output flange.
3. Play in the entire differential due to a loose adjusting ring or other.
I got under the van and wiggled the drivers side flange whith my hand on the passenger side and felt no movement being transferred through.
Are there any recommendations for further investigating this problem?
If the problem is the adjusting ring, it is unclear to me weather the drivers side adjusts the ring gear or adjusts the preload on the differential bearings but from the Bentley, it looks like it on the ring side. How would you go about fixing this problem? Get the ring adjusted with new bearings and see if it will last the ~15k miles left on our trip?
_________________
1986 Syncro Sunroof EJ22
www.subagonsouth.com |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16501
Location: Brookeville, MD
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gears
Samba Member
Joined: October 28, 2002
Posts: 4391
Location: Tamarack, Bend, Kailua
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| Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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Normal wear in bore of diff cover .. as Waldi said, no cause for alarm. As has been discussed before, the bore in the cover is shorter than the other side, so wear is greater than on the opposite side.
_________________
aka Pablo, Geary
9.36 @ 146 in '86 Hot & Sticky
'90 Syncro Westy SVX
'87 Syncro GL 2.5
https://guardtransaxle.com |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16501
Location: Brookeville, MD
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tim_ha
Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2012
Posts: 192
Location: Estes Park, CO
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| Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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Whew, that is good news. 
Thanks for the info Gears. I tried to search for info on this with no luck.
I guess that I am just paranoid about the van breaking down so far from home and parts suppliers.
_________________
1986 Syncro Sunroof EJ22
www.subagonsouth.com |
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