Below. bmc :) "Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."
Is it a real bear to pull? I might be able to remove it before my 'ole Pita > goes off to the scrap yard today. --No, four bolts and two nuts, if memory serves. >> I searched a few vendor sites and didn't find any Stablilizer Links right >> off the top. Where should I look for one? Any chance of replacing it >> without removing the whole stabilizer bar? The upper bushing looks like a >> mean little guy. What are the odds of getting the whole bar off from an 81 >> van without breaking the mounting bolts? Will I be able to get all the old >> bushings out and the new ones in, or do would I have to have someone do it >> for me? --The bushings aren't as bad as they look. Put it on the stabilizer bar first, then work the link on with soapy water. >> Is my van unusable without that link attached? I would never let it go >> beyond the time it takes to get parts, but I am short of vehicles at the >> moment, so I would still like to carefully drive it unless that would be a >> major safety problem. --You just have more sway if you have to swerve or corner hard. It is a safety issue, but not major if you're not in the habit of driving like Mario Andretti. Of course, you never know when you'll need it. > When the right side link broke on my 84, I took the whole bar off and > drove it for a couple of years without it. I never could feel much > difference. I suppose there is less lateral stability, but should also > be less jolt when just one wheel hits a bump. > I think the bar is still lying under my deck behind the house. --On a similar note, my syncro had a broken RF link for a few months, and I re-welded it once I discovered it. I did notice a significant difference in cornering, especially long sweepers on the highway. bmc :) |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.