A cry for help, my pinion nut seems loose. Now with pics!
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A cry for help, my pinion nut seems loose. Now with pics!
Hey guys, it's been awhile since I've been on here. I asked for help about a year and a half ago viewtopic.php?f=50&t=143087&hilit=vanagon but got distracted/frustrated and have just let the rail sit all this time. Is there anybody close to Wv willing to tear this thing apart to see if it's salvageable, or for the time/shipping costs would I be better off just getting another trans?
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Re: A cry for help, my pinion nut seems loose. Now with pics
Well I decided to over-come my fear of the unknown and see if I could get this thing apart. I've got the diff out, where do I go from here?
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Re: A cry for help, my pinion nut seems loose. Now with pics
Outright rebuilt Bus Trannies are in the $700+ range. You should be able to get yours rebuilt for less than that including shipping. Is yours a 3 rib with a 5.42 r&p? If so, definitely get yours rebuilt. That is a stronger less common ratio that you will end up paying quite a bit more for in a replacement trans., and you will have extreme difficulty finding that ratio in a used trans. Jim's Custom VW's about 3.5 hours North in Columbiana Ohio could fix you up getting yours rebuilt. I would think you could get it to him, and back for less than $250 shipping.
Taking yours apart is going to require a special socket that runs between $75-$150 to get the pinion nut off. Then a press to press the gears apart. Then you are going to need a jig to reassemble it to adjust the shift forks. You will most likely have more money in the tools than the cost of a rebuild.
Taking yours apart is going to require a special socket that runs between $75-$150 to get the pinion nut off. Then a press to press the gears apart. Then you are going to need a jig to reassemble it to adjust the shift forks. You will most likely have more money in the tools than the cost of a rebuild.
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Re: A cry for help, my pinion nut seems loose. Now with pics
Thanks gkeeton! This is a mid-80's 094 Vanagon trans and I'm just trying the waters to see if I can fix what I have.
I have a press, basic tools and can fab some stuff. I need guidance though, there's not much step-by-step on the web about these that I've found.
ETA- I can turn the pinion nut by hand and (it looks like) the outer race of the pinion bearing turns with it, how do I remove the nut?
I have a press, basic tools and can fab some stuff. I need guidance though, there's not much step-by-step on the web about these that I've found.
ETA- I can turn the pinion nut by hand and (it looks like) the outer race of the pinion bearing turns with it, how do I remove the nut?
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Re: A cry for help, my pinion nut seems loose. Now with pics
The later Vanagon trannies are a little less complicated. Pick up a Bentley manual for the 80's Vanagon, and that will give you more info about rebuilding. The pinion bearing is an interference fit within the case. The loose nut has allowed the bearing to move within the case, so you'll have to find another case section. As far as getting the nut off, there's no real way of holding the bearing still now, so you will probably have to cut it off with a dremel tool, or the like.
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Re: A cry for help, my pinion nut seems loose. Now with pics
Dang. Needing another case will suck. I was hoping I could just replace the pinion nut and re-assemble, but that's probably not gonna work. I'll go study that pinion nut and see what my options are as to removing it.
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Re: A cry for help, my pinion nut seems loose. Now with pics
Upon closer examination, the outer race seems to be tight in the case. What-ever the pinion nut screws onto is what's turning, does that make any sense? If so, how do I keep the bearing from rotating while I remove the pinion nut?
I'll go try to find a manual in the mean-time.
I'll go try to find a manual in the mean-time.
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Re: A cry for help, my pinion nut seems loose. Now with pics
Unfortunately, the part that the nut threads onto is the outer race of the bearing. Most reinstall the bearing by warming the case to expand, then it clamps down on the bearing when cooled. There are also flats on the pinion bearing race that help lock it into corresponding flats on the inside of the case. The loose bearing has loosened the bore the bearing fits into, and has most likely chewed the flats off the case inside. I've used a dremel tool with a fiber cutoff wheel to cut through 90% of the pinion nut to not damage the threads on the bearing, then use a chisel to split what's left of the nut.
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Re: A cry for help, my pinion nut seems loose. Now with pics
I may try to cut that nut off or just wait till I can score a manual. It's been this long, what's another few days right? It's hard to describe but the outer race itself isn't moving but I can turn the nut and consequently the rollers/inner race rotate also. Am I correct in assuming the intermediate housing will have to come off if this thing is repairable?
- Henryhoehandle
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Re: A cry for help, my pinion nut seems loose. Now with pics
You are very close to me... PM if you want. For a woods buggy, I believe your ring and pinion might be ok. Since the bearing is turning in the case, you will most likely need a different case. I have also seen people (for budget reasons- and again for off road use), use a case like this and get by a long time depending on how hard you push it.
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Re: A cry for help, my pinion nut seems loose. Now with pics
Will do Henry, thanks.
I cut that nut off and didn't realize there was a washer under it, that's why it appeared like the outer race wasn't spinning. gkeeton nailed it though, the outer race IS spinning in the case. Time to hand this basket-case over to the pro's I guess. Thanks guys!
I cut that nut off and didn't realize there was a washer under it, that's why it appeared like the outer race wasn't spinning. gkeeton nailed it though, the outer race IS spinning in the case. Time to hand this basket-case over to the pro's I guess. Thanks guys!
- woodsbuggy1
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Re: A cry for help, my pinion nut seems loose. Now with pics
I would think that you could have the case machined and a sleeve installed, it is not uncommon in the offroad world.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Good quality is getting harder and harder to find.