Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 06:48:53 EDT
Reply-To: RAlanen@aol.com
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@aol.com>
Subject: Re: Steering coupling / universal
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 6/24/00 5:55:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
<< Steering coupling / universal >>
The steering coupling is just that, a rubber coupling. There are three
of them in the steering linkage for non-power steering Vanagons. All power
steering Vanagons have a universal joint at the steering rack connection.
There are two couplings and one universal joint on Vanagons with power
steering. AND, I got a message yesterday from Tim Smith telling me that the
U-joint in the Syncros are different from the standard Vanagons. Evidently
larger. Can anyone out there verify this ? It is the universal joint which
I needed (got one from the dealer last week and put it in already) and which
Kieth needs. One remark worth noting, when you take off the old U-joint be
sure to mark its location on the splined shaft of the steering rack. I did
not and it took me several hours of trying to get it back on in the proper
location so the steering wheel would be centred. What a major PITA. Anyways,
it's done now and the '87 Westy rolls again in a straight line. This U-joint
must have been worn out for some time as I did take it apart in an attempt to
repair it and one of the bearings was completely rusted and seized. This is
probably the cause of my handling problems that I was attributing to the
Michelin Agilis tires I had installed back in December and finally changed
them for Michelin LTX's. The Westy had been inspected twice by my Volkswagen
shop for alignment and the tire shop, none of which found a problem with the
steering U-joint. Each time they inspected it they said it was fine. In my
inspections it seemed fine also. No movement could be found ! Well, turns
out, with one of the bearings seized it was tight as a drum for someone to
try and find some play in it. BUT, under road conditions, especially windy
days, there was enough force to make it come loose and cause the van to have
steering problems. Now, can I get back to promoting the STEBRO/Vanagon
Stainless Steel Muffler ? Shameless plug to help defray the cost of Vanagon
ownership !
Cheers
Frank Condelli
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service for the Ottawa Valley
STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems
Almonte, On
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