Date:         Mon, 25 Mar 2002 00:43:33 -0500
Reply-To:     Ignace Speybrouck <ignace@SYMPATICO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ignace Speybrouck <ignace@SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject:      1985 squeak squeak clunk clunk...

Hi,

Well, front suspension question.

I've been driving the Vanagon for a year now.  The front suspension,
specially on passenger side squeak badly.  Actually, it's been squeaking
since I bought it, a year ago.  Putting some liquid graphite on the upper
and lower bushings, plus the swaybar bushing, sort of stops the squeak.  But
the clunk in the front suspension is still there.  I removed the shock
absorber and still had a clunk.  So it isn't a shock clunk.

I had the van aligned on all four wheels a year ago.  I was in the shop when
the job got done, and talked to the mechanic.  He said that the bushing were
not soft nor crunched, otherwise he said he couldn't align the van properly.

Recently I noticed that the bushings on the radius arm seem cracked, mostly
on the right side.  Could those bushings cause all the clunk ?

How about changing all the bushings ?  Is this a DIY thing ?  Or do I need a
heavy press ?

BTW I changed the two upper ball joint that were a little lose.

Thank in advance !

Ignace

1985 Vanagon GL (What a great family car)