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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...
Comments: To: laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM
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"


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