Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 23:07:06 -0700
Reply-To: Antaki <wrack@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Antaki <wrack@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: I want to kill my control arm bushings...
In-Reply-To: <5.1.1.6.0.20030729120157.01e608a0@mail.gct21.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Steve,
I just got through replacing the upper control arm bushings, amongst
most of the other wear items in the front end, so I'm interested in what
your problem with them is. I missed the first part of this thread,
though.
Meyle made the bushings I used, also. They are the same ones for the all
model Vanagons, I believe, my experience is with a Syncro. The upper
control arms are different by some degree, but they mount the same way
to the chassis.
When installed, there was a large gap between the bonded rubber bushing
and the eccentric washer when the bolt was loose. It did not feel right
to squeeze the bushing by tightning the bolt, like that.
Bentley specs a maximum of 0.5 mm / 0.020 in. gap. There are three
thicknesses of eccentric washers available, 4.0 mm, 5.0 mm and 5.5 mm.
I used two of the 5.5 mm fresh from the dealer (the other two just
arrived!). However, my originals were also 5.5 mm, so no change. Got
lucky, I guess, in that I found some 1/2" (iIrc) Hardened washers at
OSH. They were thicker than the regular ones, but not as large in
diameter, and fit on the long adjusting bolt as if they were made for
it. A skinnier ring if you will. Anyhoo, they filled the gap and made a
nice, tight fit. We had to wiggle the control arm in! So far, on a
weekend trip with freeway and rough dirt road, no problems.
If your bushings aren't trashed yet, give those or similar washers a
try. If any of you more knowlegable folks out there do not think my
solution is correct or safe, please let me know! Perhaps we need to
custom-make some thicker eccentric washers?
Take a deep breath, repeat, "it's only a car, it's only a car, ..."
And good luck!
Ron
'86 SW - Quadrat
'88 Wolfie - Bluberry 'etc.
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Steve Delanty
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 12:27 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: I want to kill my control arm bushings...
Well, this morning I pulled the left front wheel off the
Westy and removed the upper control arm so I could
inspect the new bushings and try and figure out why
they are so noisy...
The bushings *look* O.K., with no obvious signs of
damage. The spot welds are still spot welded and
all looks well with the world.
But even with no load, just moving the control arm
up and down (upper ball joint disconnected) you can
hear and *feel* the rubbery/squeaky groan they make.
Under load you can hear and feel it through the whole vehicle. These
bushings are definitely trash...
They have the following identifying markings on them:
Meyle
Germany
251 407 077
It's pretty depressing to blow $100 on bushings and
a most of a day to change them and end up with something
that's almost to obnoxious to drive.
I guess I'll look for another brand of bushing and try again. Wish I
hadn''t already paid to have the front end aligned...
Disgusted,
Steve
'86 Westy "Escape Pod"