Which CV Joint Kits will fit my '93 Cabriolet?

Hi all and happy New Year!

The transmission seals are leaking on my '93 Cabriolet (1.8lt, injected, 5 speed manual, "Clipper") and I thought I may as well change the inner and outer CV joints and boots as well.

Checking the Heritage Parts site I see there are 2 options for the Outer CV Joint kits - "81mm" and "90mm". The site says both will fit my car, but I don't know what these measurements are referring to (the spline I assume?). Would anyone know which would work with my car?

Also, I see the site lists 2 options for both left and right for the inner CV joints, however these are out of stock. There is a third Topran product that doesn't say its' for either left or right side. I am right in assuming 2 of these will do the trick? Or are there specific left and right versions?

Many thanks in advance!

probably 100mm, but you can always get th elocal autofacter to ship both, and you can then take your removed part.  But you can guess by measuring the outer of the cv and then removing say 3mm x 2, to allow inner measurement , of the flange.

From brokevw.com the Bibliotech of the Transmissions.

Flange Seal Info

There are 2 types of seal, the new types are 50x65x10 in size, while the older seals are 36x58x15 in size. The new seal is 7.5mm wide, and the old seal is 11mm wide, they're sometimes called 'fat' seals. The fat seals can be found on trans before 1983 and you can quick check to see if the trans has the old seals or the new seals… look for the green sleeve.

The green sleeve on just the passenger side means it has all new style parts (flanges, seals, springs, thrust cones, diff carrier), and this will be a 1983+ trans. The factory also released some I think that used 2 green sleeves, one on each side, and it was during the transition period I think between the 2 case designs for the new seals. These trans will have all new parts, but the case will be older.

A trans without any green sleeve is going to be an older unit, and it will use the old fat seals.

The seals being used will tell you about the flanges… there are old and new style 90mm flanges, and then there are 100mm flanges. The 100mm and the new style 90mm flanges use the new style seals, the 50x65x10 seals. The old style 90mm flanges use the old fat seals.

Converting a 100mm trans to 90mm

You can't put the old style 90mm flanges or seals into a new case, the hole machined into the aluminum is too large. You have to use new 90mm flanges in the new seals to make the trans 90mm. The new 90mm flanges will fit right into the existing seals and sleeve and will be able to use the springs and cones behind the flanges.

Converting a 90mm trans to 100mm

If the trans has a green sleeve in it, then it is new style, just find some 100mm flanges, and pop them in. If it has 2 green sleeves, it should be a direct fit, but if you find for some reason that there are no springs or cones behind the old flanges, then you can still use the new 100mm flanges, just without the springs and cones… the diff carrier inside would determine if the cones and springs can be used (basically, if you have a place for the cones in the carrier), but either way, the new 100mm flanges can be used if the trans has 1 or 2 green sleeves.

If the 90mm trans has no green sleeves at all, then it has old style 90mm flanges, and it is using the old style fat seals, and has no springs or cones behind it, and likely the diff carrier can't use them anyway. To make them 100mm, you need 2 green sleeves, 2 new flange seal kits, and obviously a pair of 100mm flanges. The green sleeves will convert the small holes into larger holes, and allow the new seals to fit, then the new flanges can be used, and the trans will be converted to 100mm. You can also choose to do this and then use new style 90mm flanges, to replace the old style 90mm flanges.

Some older trans will need grinding done on the side of the case for the drivers flange to clear, RonP has some info about the grinding, and also about converting the old trans to 100mm. Here is a link to Ron's page which has info on converting an older trans to use the new seals… http://scirocco.dyn.dhs.org/cheapassron/020tranny/flanges.htm