Re: shift linkages and tranny seals

["Bill Scarince" <scarince@gte.net>]

Jorel,

The shift lever is connected to the transmission through a series of levers
and links.  The linkage is configured to translate the movement of the shift
lever into the proper movement of the gear selector on the side of the
transaxle.  The shift linkage contains many different kinds of joints - some
that hinge, some that slide, some that are ball/socket joints (like a hip
joint).  The wear in the joints happens in the bushings and in the plastic
sockets of two of the links.  As they wear, the movement translations get
sloppy and imprecise.

If you're going to keep this car and even consider doing any work on it, you
must buy a Bentley.  Trust me, you cannot live without one.  I can not
stress this enough.  The manual will show very nice exploded views of the
linkage.  You should be able to replace the bushings in about an hour.  The
kit is about $5.00.  You can buy the links with the bushing kit for about
$35.00.

The seals are not difficult to change.  You need to remove the axles and
drain the transaxle oil.  You remove the two drive flanges, then the two old
seals.  You will need a tool to compress the drive flanges back in.  Be
advised:  if the seals have leaked for a long time, dirt will be picked up
by the oily flange and there will be grooves worn in the sealing surface of
the drive flange.  If that happens, you must replace the flange or it will
trash the new seal and start leaking again.  Flange is about $85.00 each,
new, I think.

To get the tool you need for the flange, just buy a Velocity limited slip
differential kit.  To paraphrase Brett, you get two seals and a tool for
free, or is it a tool and some seals for free?  Sorry Brett.  Anyway, it'll
come with the tool and the seals, and these little thrust washers that
reduce the slip in your diff.

Good luck.

Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jorel" <jorel140@yahoo.com>
To: <scirocco-l@scirocco.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2000 12:23 PM
Subject: shift linkages and tranny seals


> I've talked about this before. Have been having
> problems with my '85 popping out of first gear. All
> other gears are good. I am not up on this stuff at
> all. I have been told by members of the group that
> this is a linkage problem, that they have had this
> problem and it went away when they rebuilt their shift
> linkages so on and so forth. I have also been told, by
> mechanics (many of the blood sucking vareity) that
> this could not be the problem because all this is
> controled by a cable. Seems to me their wrong?
>
> Anyways the '85 is being looked at by a diagnostics
> center just down the road from home. I want to find
> out for sure. I don't like the things they are saying
> about synchros and all. Meanwhile I found this '82 for
> sale. It has been retrofitted with a 16v rear hatch
> (false advertisement) and tail lights. It has an '84
> GTI motor under the hood  and GTI wheels and has been
> dressed up with a Kamei body kit. The body is rough
> but not rusty. The problem is that the tranny seal is
> leaky. Again I'm not up on that stuff, and that makes
> me nervous. I would be interested in merging the two
> cars, but not if both are going to have serious tranny
> problems. Decisions, decisions.
>
> In short, what I'm asking is: How does the shifter in
> these cars hook up to the transmission? Is replacing
> the tranny seals a major undertaking requiring an
> expensive mechanic bill or special tools should I do
> this myself? The problem with doing this myself is I
> am currently in the market for a house. I live in an
> apartment right now with an underground parking lot.
> Not good for working on cars. I can work on my car
> inside the warehouse at work, but not for great
> periods of time...
>
> TIA
>
> Jorel Jackson
> '85 Scirocco
>
>
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