Axle tube installation and axle binding!!! - URGENT URGENT URGENT

lownslo Commited Dubber

64 posts · joined Aug 2007 · 18 Oct 2007, 1:55 pm

#617111

Ok so vw noob here. HELP@!!!!

I am trying to put my transaxle back in but the spring plates are at full extension thus when I try and install the trans with axle tubes, the axle tubes and spring plates are both at different angles as such I can not get the axle tubes into the slot in the spring plate to bolt it all up.

Really the spring plates need to be jacked up flat to get them level with the axle tubes, but there isn't enough weight in the car to jack up by the spring plate as the whole car just lifts.

Also can someone explain why both of my axles/axle tubes are binding when moving the axle tube in its full range of motion. I know its the axle tube retainer hitting/jamming on one or both sides. It takes about 1.2mm of gaskets to free them up from binding, even still there is some binding.

Hope that all made sense.

VWMA Editor Custom Title Time!

1,086 posts · joined Jan 2004 · 18 Oct 2007, 2:42 pm

#617121

You mean, the spring plates are no longer under load? ie, you've undone the spring plate cover and pried them off their stops? Were you, or have you, adjusted the ride height? If so, you will have to put the spring plates back up onto their stops and re-fit the spring plate cover before going any further with the box. The trick is to use a trolley jack under the end of the spring plate and also attach a turn-buckle from the base of the jack to the shock tower. As you jack up the plate, the turnbuckle acts like an anchor, keeping the car from lifting. Once you have the spring plate back up on top of the stops, you can start to re-fit and tighten the spring plate cover, then let the jack down slowly while watching to make sure the spring plate stays on the stop. If you are using new spring plate rubbers sometimes they can push the plate away a fraction.

I hope this is what you were having difficulty with?!

lownslo Commited Dubber

64 posts · joined Aug 2007 · 18 Oct 2007, 2:57 pm

#617125

No but it still answers my question heh so cheers none the less. Now just help me with my axle binding issue heh

lownslo Commited Dubber

64 posts · joined Aug 2007 · 18 Oct 2007, 4:42 pm

#617143

1.6mm of gasket paper before it stops binding 😬 something seriously wrong but what!!!

To make it easier i'm talking about this area of parts binding

All the semi circular sections of metal look like they've been binding pretty bad by the fairly deep grooves....Can someone tell me away how to fix this I need this hunk o crap out of my driveway!!! Would be greatly appreciated

edit*

If I grab the axle shaft housing and rotate it circularly in its full motion there is one area in which it sticks, in the rest there is play as there is too many gaskets. So if I could work out what is stopping it in this one section I could remove all but one gasket so it will be as it should be..... what do people think is causing this.

sigh....would it make sense that they had been binding for quite some time and the reason they seemed free when I pulled them off originally is that they had worn away at each other evenly. And now that I have gone and put them all back together in a different orientation its all binding.

lownslo Commited Dubber

64 posts · joined Aug 2007 · 18 Oct 2007, 5:52 pm

#617154

Well it appears to be that if I rotate the axle retaining housing until I find the way it was originally then I can get the axle to not bind (only tried it on one axle so far) . Its like a fuckin rubix cube :P at least theres only 6 different combinations :p

dangerous 23 Windows of Awesome

5,901 posts · joined Jan 2005 · 19 Oct 2007, 5:30 am

#617237

The correct procedure is to use varied gasket thickness to get smooth movement of the axle tube.
Most Gasket sets should have enough gaskets to do the job,
but a few trannys will still need more.

Later trannys have a plastic "flower" to go between the tube and the tranny on the spherical surface.
If that is rough or torn it can cause as you describe.
As can excess paint or powder coat.

The other problem is that in situations where extreme travel has been encountered,
(ie squatting too far without the bump stops in place, or binding when raised like an off roader),
the steel piece can get distorted out of shape.

Provided the surfaces are clean and lubed with no burrs, or ragged surfaces on the "flower",
correct gasket thickness should give smooth travel with no play against the side of the tranny.

westi wrote:That's mad Alan.

lownslo Commited Dubber

64 posts · joined Aug 2007 · 19 Oct 2007, 10:19 am

#617266

Well apparently its more to do with I'm an idiot that anything else. I didn't have the axle retainers centered thus there was a smaller gap one one side than the other hence why it was binding on one side and not the other. You live and you learn I spose, damn was that a frustrating day though :p