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Date:         Tue, 8 Oct 2002 13:19:55 -0500
Reply-To:     Chris Mills <scmills@TNTECH.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Mills <scmills@TNTECH.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Replacing steering rubber link with universal joint
Comments: To: David Brodbeck <gull@CYBERSPACE.ORG>
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.SUN.3.96.1021008084525.2339A-100000@grex.cyberspace.o rg>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>The Super Beetles used U-joints in the steering column and they were >failure-prone, too.

The Supers had no bushings or bearings between the "X" and the end cages apparently. They wore quit a bit. Mine made alot of noise until I removed the gas tank for inspection. Let's just say it was so bad I would never had been driving that car like that!

The U-joints were used because the steering wheel was not in line with the steering rack input. In a bad collision it would have been shoved back but would not have pushed the steering shaft back at the driver. I doubt this would be the case in a VW van.

Another two reasons to consider: probably cheaper to use the rubber doughnut and the rubber probably isolated noise or vibration from the steering.

I've known of one to fail on a 60's vintage Corvette. My friend rolled it and walked away - was normal speeds in normal traffic. Lap belt saved his bacon. Now he has a vintage convertible years and years later but won't drive it more than a couple miles at a time. Still scared I suppose.

If you choose to use a U-joint check the hot rod mags - they sell some nice high quality U-joints. Another source would be industrial part suppliers.

DON'T use a socket wrench u-joint. When I was about 12 or 13 years old I was at a hot rod show when a U-joint failed on a fellow's car. Those were the days when more people were building cars from junkyard gems and less from the catalogs like today (alot of innovation back then and some scary stuff too). A fellow had just exited the interstate and was backing into his show parking space when the joint failed and he lost his steering. He turned off the engine and climbed out to examine the problem with a buddy. He remarked quite calmly he couldn't understand why because it was a Craftsman but at least it would be replaced under warranty!!!! Apparently they went and got another after knocking the roll pin back in on the one he had. I knew even as a kid I had seen a couple roll pins work their way out under normal use...

SCARY!!!

Chris M. <"Busbodger" of "TEAM SLOWPOKE"> Cookeville, Tennessee

ICQ# 5944649 scm9985@tntech.edu

'78 VW Westfalia (67 HP -> that is...67 Hamster Power) '65 Beetle - Type IV powered '99 CR-V AWD station wagon '81 CB900 Custom moto-chickle 2.5 Corvair engines for my Trans-vair Conversion


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