Seems that SDP do lots of common stuff available over here too.
wonder if owners of those vehicles have the same issues
The did the system for the renault scenic RX4 - must be pretty similar to the freelander one - permanent 4wd - mostly front drive
from a review of the RX4
"Designed jointly by Renault and Austrian four-wheel drive specialists Steyr Daimler Puch, the RX4's system uses a centre viscous coupling for front/rear torque distribution, and electronic traction control on the front axle. With these systems working in tandem, the RX4 can easily extricate itself from situations where grip is limited."
wonder if owners of those vehicles have the same issues
The did the system for the renault scenic RX4 - must be pretty similar to the freelander one - permanent 4wd - mostly front drive
from a review of the RX4
"Designed jointly by Renault and Austrian four-wheel drive specialists Steyr Daimler Puch, the RX4's system uses a centre viscous coupling for front/rear torque distribution, and electronic traction control on the front axle. With these systems working in tandem, the RX4 can easily extricate itself from situations where grip is limited."
SDP or part of their group seem to do everythin !!!!!
Magna Steyr
Magna International Inc.
Automotive Systems Groups
12
Powertrain Systems
Magna Steyr is one of the world's
most technologically advanced suppliers
of total drivetrain technologies. Magna
Steyr is also world-renowned for its
4x4 systems specifically developed for
all-wheel-drive automobiles and offroad
vehicles, fast growing product
segments in the global automotive
industry. The group supplies the fourwheel-
drive transmission module for
the Mercedes-Benz E Class 4MATIC,
which is assembled at Magna Steyr,
and develops and produces all-wheeldrive
versions of a number of popular
vehicles for customers such as General
Motors, Volkswagen, DaimlerChrysler,
Rover, Fiat and Renault.
Magna Steyr's all-wheel-drive
transmissions provide superior traction
and noise reduction and are increasingly
sought after by OEMs as high-tech
options on luxury vehicles and SUVs.
Production began last year on a newly
developed all-wheel-drive system and a
rear-axle differential for General
Motors. Other powertrain products
that represent revenue potential for
Magna Steyr include highly engineered
and precision-manufactured transfer
cases, axle modules and power take-off
units. Magna Steyr has expanded its
manufacturing and product development
capabilities to include engine systems
such as the mass balancing systems it
supplies to BMW and Audi.
most technologically advanced suppliers
of total drivetrain technologies. Magna
Steyr is also world-renowned for its
4x4 systems specifically developed for
all-wheel-drive automobiles and offroad
vehicles, fast growing product
segments in the global automotive
industry. The group supplies the fourwheel-
drive transmission module for
the Mercedes-Benz E Class 4MATIC,
which is assembled at Magna Steyr,
and develops and produces all-wheeldrive
versions of a number of popular
vehicles for customers such as General
Motors, Volkswagen, DaimlerChrysler,
Rover, Fiat and Renault.
Magna Steyr's all-wheel-drive
transmissions provide superior traction
and noise reduction and are increasingly
sought after by OEMs as high-tech
options on luxury vehicles and SUVs.
Production began last year on a newly
developed all-wheel-drive system and a
rear-axle differential for General
Motors. Other powertrain products
that represent revenue potential for
Magna Steyr include highly engineered
and precision-manufactured transfer
cases, axle modules and power take-off
units. Magna Steyr has expanded its
manufacturing and product development
capabilities to include engine systems
such as the mass balancing systems it
supplies to BMW and Audi.
Transmission and Power Take-Off unit for the
Renault Scenic RX4
Rear suspension module for the Pontiac Aztec
Mass balancing system
Power Take-Off unit for the Rover Freelander
Renault Scenic RX4
Rear suspension module for the Pontiac Aztec
Mass balancing system
Power Take-Off unit for the Rover Freelander
mondo
Banned
WOT THE FU.....
Av yer seen this ??
eBay.co.uk: LANDROVER FREELANDER VISCOUS UNIT PROPSHAFT REPAIR KIT (item 150101167387 end time 22-Mar-07 11:48:05 GMT)
Av yer seen this ??
eBay.co.uk: LANDROVER FREELANDER VISCOUS UNIT PROPSHAFT REPAIR KIT (item 150101167387 end time 22-Mar-07 11:48:05 GMT)
Is that the one where he says it cures 99% of all VCU problems and usually retails for 500 squid or something ???? hes avin a larf !!!
Anyway, got an initial reply from Jim at the Vanagon site
Heres what he said -
Chris,
There are a couple of places who "rebuild" the VCs by replacing their fluid. I'm not sure if I trust this as I don't know if they actually have the right fluid or know the exact proper amount to install. The amount of air left inside the VC when filled seems to be critical in determining its proper function. It seems the best way is to replace the VC with a new one. For the VW Vanagon Syncro the cost is about $1,000 in the US.
Another alternative (which I dislike) is to leave in the stiffened VC and add a "decoupler" device which is a manually operated way of choosing 2WD or 4WD from the driver's seat. It works well for off-road conditions, but neuters all the benefits of AWD for street driving especially in wet conditions. When installing a decoupler, some even replace the VC with a solid shaft creating a hard-lock between front & rear when the decoupler is engaged.
For much discussion of this you may join the Syncro goup at Yahoo groups and search our email archives with the terms VC or viscous or decoupler. Or, is this how you came to read about the VC in Syncros in the first place?
Best of luck.
Jim Davis
Anyway, got an initial reply from Jim at the Vanagon site
Heres what he said -
Chris,
There are a couple of places who "rebuild" the VCs by replacing their fluid. I'm not sure if I trust this as I don't know if they actually have the right fluid or know the exact proper amount to install. The amount of air left inside the VC when filled seems to be critical in determining its proper function. It seems the best way is to replace the VC with a new one. For the VW Vanagon Syncro the cost is about $1,000 in the US.
Another alternative (which I dislike) is to leave in the stiffened VC and add a "decoupler" device which is a manually operated way of choosing 2WD or 4WD from the driver's seat. It works well for off-road conditions, but neuters all the benefits of AWD for street driving especially in wet conditions. When installing a decoupler, some even replace the VC with a solid shaft creating a hard-lock between front & rear when the decoupler is engaged.
For much discussion of this you may join the Syncro goup at Yahoo groups and search our email archives with the terms VC or viscous or decoupler. Or, is this how you came to read about the VC in Syncros in the first place?
Best of luck.
Jim Davis
does he know how?
I take his point about him not "liking" that option - but then we "dont like" VCU's which shag out either - Having a "switch" surely has to be a better option to knackering yo drive train or removing the prop shaft, which is the usual alternative?
As stated before - removing the 4wd reduces the load (to nil) on the VCU and IRD when in 2wd option and, with a good working VCU gives you back the normal condition. If you remove the VCU, it just gives the 4wd facility whenit is really required.
Be interested to know what "switch" mechanisms he is aware of - there is no need to re-invent the wheel! or indeed, the VCU
As stated before - removing the 4wd reduces the load (to nil) on the VCU and IRD when in 2wd option and, with a good working VCU gives you back the normal condition. If you remove the VCU, it just gives the 4wd facility whenit is really required.
Be interested to know what "switch" mechanisms he is aware of - there is no need to re-invent the wheel! or indeed, the VCU
Latest reply from Jim at Vanagon
"SDP made a few prototype Syncros with a decoupler instead of the VC. Although VW never sold any like this, it established the idea for the de-coupler. Patterned after the SDP prototype de-coupler several entrapenuers with machining skills and some parts from VW have built kits for sale. In the VW Syncro, the de-coupler replaces the nose cone of the transmission where the flange to the driveshaft comes out. In the de-coupler nose-cone is the mechanism to de-couple the output from the transmission so that no power is fed to the driveshaft which extends forward to the VC, the fron diff, and then to the front wheels. While de-coupled the VW Syncro is a rear-wheel-drive vehicle.
Check out one maker at:
http://www.longenterprises.com/vanagon_syncro_specialty_items.htm
Regards,
Jim"
Chris
"SDP made a few prototype Syncros with a decoupler instead of the VC. Although VW never sold any like this, it established the idea for the de-coupler. Patterned after the SDP prototype de-coupler several entrapenuers with machining skills and some parts from VW have built kits for sale. In the VW Syncro, the de-coupler replaces the nose cone of the transmission where the flange to the driveshaft comes out. In the de-coupler nose-cone is the mechanism to de-couple the output from the transmission so that no power is fed to the driveshaft which extends forward to the VC, the fron diff, and then to the front wheels. While de-coupled the VW Syncro is a rear-wheel-drive vehicle.
Check out one maker at:
http://www.longenterprises.com/vanagon_syncro_specialty_items.htm
Regards,
Jim"
Chris
It looks ideal - all we need now is one for the Hippoo!
Northern Irelander
Well-Known Member
Looks great
So MHM why cant you knock some of those out on your lunch hour
So MHM why cant you knock some of those out on your lunch hour
I can - yu got 20grand to fund it?
Suppose the problem is -
If it cost say £1000 for one of these things, you could almost buy 3 new VCU's for that and given that the expected life for one of these is anything from 60K to 90K you would more than exceed the life of the vehicle ??
On th other hand, the unit would hopefully be a one off purchase and you wouldhave all the benefits of only being 2wd when on the road
Difficult one
If it cost say £1000 for one of these things, you could almost buy 3 new VCU's for that and given that the expected life for one of these is anything from 60K to 90K you would more than exceed the life of the vehicle ??
On th other hand, the unit would hopefully be a one off purchase and you wouldhave all the benefits of only being 2wd when on the road
Difficult one
yu is the man to find out....
a) how much is that device?
b) would they/ could they make one fur the hippoo.
c) if so how much fur that?
a) how much is that device?
b) would they/ could they make one fur the hippoo.
c) if so how much fur that?
i will leave that particular pleasure to you
