Thanks! There's probably a good reason why the manuals don't say to do it like that, but it works for me anyway. I don't think it would work if the gearbox was still in the car though - the axle tubes would have to be disconnected from the spring plates at the very least.

Thanks! I'm glad you found it useful :)

Hi, thanks so much for your comment! I have cleaned it all out now and it's painted and ready to go back together. It's just a case of finding the time do it now.

Hi, thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it. The gaskets have arrived now so I'll hopefully be putting it all back together again soon so I'll do another video on that process too.

That's awesome! Thanks for the comment 😊 I found a load of your videos useful so I'm glad I could return the favour. As for swapping, I *think* you can just change the side plates over but I've never actually done it myself. Good luck!

@@2BugsandaBack Thanks! We're gonna find out... today!

@@DuckmanCycles good luck!

@@2BugsandaBack Side covers and differential! I moved the ring gear from the swing axle trans onto the IRS diff and installed it back into the formerly swing axle transmission on account that the ring and pinion have a wear pattern that they jive with. While I was at it, I replaced the IRS axle stub seals and caps, too. They were in pretty bad shape. Might make a video, if I do, I'll reference yours, maybe even borrow a short clip to tell people to go back and watch this video first as step 1!

@@DuckmanCycles great stuff! It's good to know that they are interchangeable for sure. I'd be very happy for you to use clips from my video - I can send you the original MP4 if that helps?

Yeah, the chisel bit isn't ideal but as long as you're very careful with it, it should be fine. Probably!

I reused it. They were not damaged in any way and they're made of really thick metal. If it was bent or cracked then I'd definitely put a new one in though.

Hi, and thanks! I took the axle tubes off because that's the only way to replace the paper gaskets which were leaking really badly. It's not necessary to remove the axles themselves, but with the tubes off, there is nothing to support them and the gearbox is awkward to move around with the exposed axles hanging out of the sides. I drained all the oil out before I started so it does need refilling but I haven't done that yet because the rest of the car is being restored and I will have to pull the gearbox out again before it's finished. Refilling is easy though. Just take the fill plug out about halfway up the side of the box and pump oil in until it overflows from the filling hole and put the plug back in again.

Windhund Garage ah. Now that makes sense. I’m cleaning mine up and took the plate off, seeing oil spill everywhere. I should have seen this video first. Dang. I didn’t know I had to do all this to take the axles off. Again thanks and excellent video. I’m following you now and liked your videos.

I have been told that the main case of the IRS and Swing Axle transaxles are the same, you just need to change the side plates but I have never tried it. If you're talking about a wholesale swap, then it's a lot of work because all the rear suspension is different.

I'm in the UK, and I got mine from Halfords, but if you're in the US they sell them in Harbor Freight www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-two-jaw-puller-set-40966.html They're not VW specific so you should be able to get one at most tool shops or car spares shops.

Thank you!!!

I don't think you can. The inner part of the bearing is a tight fit on the axle itself, and the outer part is a tight fit into the tube so the bearing effectively holds the tube on. You might be able to remove the side plates to access the circlip that holds the axle to the diff and then remove the axle and tube with the bearing all in one piece. I've never actually tried to do that though.

Windhund Garage thanks, I just rented a puller for the job. This video makes it look easy!

Got it off! Thanks again.

Great stuff! Well done 😊

I can't remember off the top of my head. I'll check the manual when I get to the unit later and get back to you :)

At 9:26? That's a plastic spacer thing. Sometimes known as a daisy. It's a kind of bearing that allows the tube to move with the suspension.

Hi. It should be fairly easy, using circlip pliers, squeeze the two parts of the clip together as hard as you can and carefully lift it out straight.

@@2BugsandaBack two days, two days and nothing. As i say, I tried with different pliers and hard to pick them up. I have some experience on this

I don't know what to suggest then, mine came apart really easily. Is it just stuck in its groove? Maybe try and drift it round by using a punch in one of the holes? Other than that, I've got nothing. Old cars are great aren't they? 😂

Hi@@enriquemercado657, the circlip is hardened steel, so plier jaws can easily slip off the circlip removal holes. The trick is to use pliers that have a really good but finely spaced serration on the outer perimeter of the jaws. At times it also helps to ever so slightly rotate the circlip while removing it.

I had to watch it again to see what you meant!! I don't know what the noise is. I think it's probably just my mic rubbing on my jacket. I can say for certain that it's not a coffee pot for a couple of reasons: a) I haven't got a coffee pot because b) I don't drink coffee! This channel is entirely powered by tea :D

That's true, but the only magnet I had to hand was a large one that I use for holding panels whilst welding. It's got a lot of metal filings stuck to it and there's no way I was getting that anywhere near the insides of my gearbox.

Haha! I must've just finished watching a Sarah N Tuned video before I did this one 😂

@@2BugsandaBack not sure who that is, but in a roadkill/junkyard digs viewer, so you KNOW none of my junk is clean

@@sammy13ificationable ah, yeah, I get it! Sarah N Tuned does some great work, well worth checking out but she has ocd levels of cleanliness on the cars she works on.

@@2BugsandaBack i... do not. But THIS one is getting special treatment. And every thread I touch is getting marine grease or wd40 on it when it goes back on. This car is absolutely heinous, and it's even making ME bothered