Date:         Tue, 6 May 2003 11:55:46 -0700
Reply-To:     Randy Huyck <Fritz_H@MSN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Randy Huyck <Fritz_H@MSN.COM>
Subject:      Steering Weirdness
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

Odd experience lately with my '85 Vanagon.  The steering has gotten
noticably EASIER.  Kind of like the sensation when you have brand new tires
and steering effort is greatly reduced, but even more so.  The car still
stays straight at various speeds when I take my hands off the wheel, but
turns at moderate to highway speeds have begun to feel a little spooky.  At
low speeds, like turning onto neighborhood streets, the wheel spins far more
easily than before.  It reminds me a bit of driving on ice.

The tires look ok - plenty of tread.  I rotated them to see if that would
change anything, but it didn't.  Neither my wife nor I have hit curbs,
potholes, etc. recently.  Everything looks ok under the front end - no
bends, loose/missing bolts, etc.  The wheel bearings are noisy at speed and
in need of repacking or replacing - could they be causing this problem?

Part of me thinks it's my imagination - we just bought an '01 Ford F150 and
I'm wondering if the van is just that much easier to steer than the Ford
that my mental point of reference is skewed.

I dunno.  Any ideas would be appreciated.

Randy, Carla & Anna Huyck, Olympia, WA
'75 Rustfalia
'85 Vanagon GL
'74 Super Beetle
'01 Ford F150