Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 05:48:03 -0700
Reply-To: "Phil S." <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Phil S." <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: I want to kill my control arm bushings.......Excentric Washers
In-Reply-To: <000001c35660$ce8556c0$6401a8c0@jiggy>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Ron wrote:
"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."
Ron, this is exactly my problem, the new Meyle
bushings had this wierd gap between the excentric
washer and the new bushings. i did everything by the
bentley but still had this extra play in the wishbone
once all fitted. ive left it that way and drive like
turtle now. I didnt think to get a thicker washer, i
think Ron is on to something, although id like to here
from more suspension gurus of the list. This problem
differs from Steve, who started this topic, he did
everything by the book and now he still gets loud
annoying squeeks....strange, i had the squeeks untill
i installed my poor-fitting Meyle bushings. But
wait,...Ron you installed new 5.5mm washers, the same
size as your OLD 5.5mm washers, so really nothing
changed, you are still OEM/stock Phil 84' Westy Tiico
--- Antaki <wrack@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> 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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