How to tell if the 3-4 syncro hub has been replaced in '88

[barrettw]

In the market for an '88-91' Wolfsburg/Carat and I'm familiar with the manual transmission problems during these years. I have heard that a common symptom of a broken 3-4 syncro hub is the infamous "popping out of gear". Obviously if the seller had transmission work done it's likely because of this but I'm finding a few that haven't had work done.
Any suggestions on how to re-create this during a test drive? Trying to save myself a $1200 + surprise

Thanks

[TeamSpatula]

Not sure if this applies to this model tranny or not, but I've driven/worked on both bays & splits that popped out of gear. Some did it rarely, while I had a single cab that required a bungee cord for 4th gear. Of course, I drove it for 3-4000 miles like that before I sold it with no problems.
Anyway, seems like you can usually make it pop out by lugging the engine at load/low rpms.
hope that helps.
_________________
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1981 Diesel Rabbit
I NEED A CAMPER!!!! (1971 is ideal but will consider other years)
http://www.TeamSpatula.com

[gears]

There are no symptoms of having the early, weak hub until it cracks. Popping-out-of-gear is not typically a symptom of a cracked hub. Hard-to-put-into-gear, hard-to-get-out-of-gear, grinding-when-shifting-into-gear --- these are typical symptoms of a cracked hub. Driving beyond this point is really asking for trouble, as the pieces come apart and travel to dangerous areas.

Popping-out-of-gear is more a symptom of worn synchro teeth flanks.

If your transmission hasn't been rebuilt, it probably has a 80%+ chance of cracking the 3rd/4th hub before 150K miles.

[Alan Brase]

Gears:
At what point did the radiused slot hubs make it into Vanagons? I thought later models did, but I'm sure it was later than mid-1987.
And I think I've heard of the later hubs failing at some point, too. Is this true, and how long a life can one expect with the improved hubs?
(I'm sure there are many variables, affecting expected life by at least a factor of 2!)
Al
69 doublecab, vanagons

[barrettw]

I ended up with a '88 Wolfsburg with 200K. I test drove it once and of course the drive to its new home. I didn't have any trouble with getting into gear or grinding.
Anyone heard of a bad hub exceeding the 200k mark?
Is it safe to assume that any grinding or difficulty getting it into gear would only occur in 3rd and/or 4th gear and not in 1st or 2nd?
Previous owner had no info about transmission work so I trolling for info to see if I need to plunk down the cash and save myself a walk home one day.

69 double cab: According to the folks at GoWesty the improved hub appeared in the later half of 89, but that's only one opinion.

[gears]

Later half of '89 is probably correct, as I believe '90 & '91 models had the updated hub. The updated hub has been improved in 3 different ways, and I haven't personally seen these fail -- nor does it look as though they would fail. However, there are other issues, such as oiling to 4th gear idler and mainshaft bearing that can indirectly lead to required replacement of the hub (along with a number of other parts) during a rebuild. Also, the 3 energizers (shift plates) used in these later model transmissions are actually 3-piece, and occasionally fail. This would also lead to the need for hub replacement.

[gears]

... and yes, the hub issue is only the 3rd/4th hub. However, 1st/2nd also uses the 3-piece shift plates which occasionally come "unglued".