Just finishing this VC...

[silverbullet]

From a c.1988 180,000 km, ex-Austrian feuerwehr JX crew bus thats currently in BW for some love, looks to be the original VC dated 8/88 and its in absolutely great condition.
Yes, it was black inside but not stinking, because the seals hadn't failed and there was still some assembly grease behind one of them!
A few plates have slight scuffing but thats nothing unusual, but look at those case splines...perfect!

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[tforturton]

Why do you think some are more damaged than others, then, even some with fewer miles on them? Is it an assembly problem, or vehicle misuse?

[silverbullet]

Once past 100,000km any VC should have been replaced, but few were. Loads have gone far beyond their design/service life and so have been abused as a result.
Damage includes:
Scuffed plates
Stretched end cap (over pressure/temp)
Flared case (over pressure)
Worn splines in casing (VC gone tight/fretting)
Worn splines in spindle
Corrosion (wading with worn diff seals)
Friction welding between casing and spindle (high rpm due to failed open condition)

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[tforturton]

What I meant was - why do some last better than others? The one you mention here has done 180,000 km - how come it's still so good? And why don't others last as well?

[Aidan]

Very important is rotation of tyres, keep them even diameter, include the spare(s) in the rotation, check the tracking at first sign of odd wear, make sure the rear trailing arm bolts aren't seized in the bushes, even weight distribution in vehicle, tyre pressures correct, weekly checks

[footstuck]

Hi mate
Ive never seen what the surfaces of the plates look like. Can we have a view of the plates please Ian?
Also, in the picture of the plates while in the wash, they look like they have been assembled to produce a spiralling effect around the circumference of the assembled plates.
Is this to align oil pathways between the plates?