Date:         Fri, 16 Jan 2004 03:26:30 -0600
Reply-To:     Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Front end seems wrong (fwd)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed

Tony, Hawk:
Maybe I'm a specialist, (but not as good as the full time specialists!).
You can certainly learn more about the condition of your front end if
you have a floor jack and are willing to take some time poking around
underneath.
I usually take off the suspect wheel and lift the  control arm with the
floor jack near the ball joint but not touching it. Lift it high enough
to compress the spring somewhat and raise the spindle enough to clear
the rubber bottoming stops.At this point there should be no tension on
any part of the suspension except the inner lower control arm bushings
and the spring and you should be able to move the spindle and ball
joints and upper control arm either with your hands or a small crowbar
or lever. If there is significant wear in the ball joints or upper
control arm bushings you should be able to feel the movement WITH YOUR
HANDS. You can look it up in the book, but I'd say anything more than
1mm (.040") is too much.
For the tie rod ends, just wiggle the front and rear of the rotor to
make the wheel steer back and forth to feel the slack.
Sometimes it helps to have an assistant wiggle the steering wheel  while
you look for the source of the slack.
        A couple of months back I put  new upper ball joints and front
shocks (Boge's), in my old Brown 87 GL. This car I've had since 1991,
it's been used hard. Has 142,000 miles.Really needed those parts! When I
took it for a test drive, I thought it was not still up to snuff. I
checked and adjusted the tire pressure. TIRE PRESSURE ALONE made a
bigger seat of the pants improvement in the handling than the new front
end parts!

(I stick pretty closely to the factory specs for tires and inflation.) I
think the difference in pressure between front and rear makes a big
difference. I usually use 40 rear, 34 front.
SPOILER? I can't see that it makes a lot of difference! (maybe some, not
as much as good tires) I have 2 Vanagons with spoilers. Sure makes it
hard to get at the spare!
I once had the 87's speedo needle right on 100. I am pleased to say the
rev limiter did NOT come on at 100. In the mountains of Pennsylvania. At
night. Some smart ass in a Honda Odessy (sp?) was trying to run away
from me. I showed him! We covered 89 miles in an hour.I figured there
was no way a deer could get in front of me with the Honda running
interference. I don't think the gas mileage was so great that tankful!
I noticed no appreciable floating of the front end despite its lack of a
spoiler!!!
Al Brase


Tony Polson wrote:

 >
 > Dip and bounce, floating at the front, scary in the wind above 62mph?
 > Sounds just like my Vanagon!  <g>
 >
 > You might want to get another Vanagon owner to drive it, and let
 > him/her see
 > how it compares.
 >
 > You might have worn ball joints, track rod ends and/or
 > suspension/steering
 > bushes.  None of these is totally and easily obvious without specialist
 > knowledge and workshop facilities.
 >
 > If your suspension and steering are in good condition, the Vanagon will
 > still float a little in the wind.  Fitting the VW five-piece front
 > spoiler
 > is one of the few ways to make a Vanagon stable in high winds.
 >
 > Good luck.
 >
 > Tony
 >