Date:         Sun, 5 Nov 2000 21:24:46 -0500
Reply-To:     Gary Stearns <gstearns@SPRINTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gary Stearns <gstearns@SPRINTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      suspension bushings
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

I seek your wisdom and experience-
Our '88 GL developed alot of suspension harshness recently. Maybe colder weather and closed windows just made it more noticeable.  Those small sharp bumps that used to be filtered out but now make the whole body ring.  In the front I solved most of this by checking three places: the upper shock mount bushings, the "radius rod" bushings, and the wheel bearings.  In both bushing locations the spacer under the rubber bushings had fused itself to the bushings due to rust, and the bushings had hardened and were cracking.  I replaced the bushings and the spacers, snugged a little play out of the wheel bearings and got most of my quiet ride back.  To conclude the front, I plan to replace the lower control arm bushings as well.  My question for you is what would be the source of this ride harshness in the rear?  The shocks have the bushings built in and were recently changed.  My Bentley seems to indicate rubber bushings on the inside of the suspension arm, but I can't tell what's on the outside. The rear wheel bearings appear to be standard roller bearings rather than tapered.  As these get loose can they create this high frequency harshness?  Is changing the rear wheel bearings a huge job? 

Thanks

Gary

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