Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 05:42:43 -0500
Reply-To: Vanagon Man <puzerewski@MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Vanagon Man <puzerewski@MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: Installing front springs 2WD
I have done this on 2 different vans.
Jack up the side that you need to remove and take off the wheel. Take off
tie rod end loose on that side. undo bolt on bottom of stabilizer link. Use
crowbar, prybar, etc. BE CAREFUL USING THE CROWBAR>>>A HARDHAT US A GOOD
IDEA HERE...........BTDT To remove threaded end out. Before you do this,
you will find that the 2 rubber pieces where the threaded end is are worn,
and the steel sleeve there are worn and pitted from rust. You may want to
get these from the dealer and have them on hand prior to doing this.......or
use the old stuff...your choice.
Now, once you have the threaded end out, you can pull the top part that had
the rubber bushing out, carefully by pulling the threaded end at an angle.
To put pack on, I used a little silicone lube on the flared end and a little
on the inside of the bushing...........The whole job takes about an hour
tops.
I replaced bushings in one van, and i had another that had a broken
stabilizer link.........
Adam P
81 westy (3 of them)
74 beetle
73 Transporter (at paint shop!)
70 Single Cab "Whitey"
Vanagon Partsmobiles
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Clemens" <jbclem@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2001 12:51 AM
Subject: Installing front springs 2WD
> I'm installing the new front springs on my 1983 Westfalia and I have two
> quick questions. On the front springs is there a top and a bottom? There
> was no mention of this in the limited instructions that came with them,
and
> the Bentley manual says to make sure the "straight end" of the spring goes
> on the bottom. Well great, the original ones have straight ends on the
top
> and the bottom. The new ones have straight ends with slight chamfers, but
> one end has more of a chamfer than the other.
> Also, if you line up the top end with the orginal spring top end, the
bottom
> ends don't match in location(not even close). Does this mean anything in
> the great scheme of things? I hope someone knows the answer.
>
> Other question, I'm replacing the bushing where the stabilizer link fits
> over the stabilizer bar(the stabilizer link is the vertical piece between
> the stabilizer bar and the lower control bar, it has a eye on the top
> portion(for the bushing) and a threaded piece on the bottom). I need to
> know an easy way to remove the stabilizer link from the stabilizer bar,
the
> bushing isn't worn enough to slide off over the flared end of the
stabilizer
> bar and I don't want to remove the entire bar(and use a press) if I can
> avoid it. A good trick would be real welcome(also for the reverse
> installation).
>
> Thanks for any suggestions.
>
> John
>
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