Date:         Mon, 28 Jun 2004 11:47:10 -0400
Reply-To:     BertKyzer@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bert Kyzer <BertKyzer@AOL.COM>
Subject:      86 GL Steering Knuckle Mystery
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Which Steering Knuckle part number do I use for my 86 GL power Steering Vanagon? I realize there are 2 different ones, one for power and one for manual steering...but....

According to the VW Dealership part number database, the correct replacement part numbers for a 1986 Vanagon GL with power steering should be as follows (right & left):

251-407-311-AQ ($602.63 by the way)
251-407-312-AQ (same price)

The part number for the same vehicle with MANUAL steering would be:

251-407-311-AG
251-407-312-AG

(the same number as for power steering except last two letters)

I have the power steering model, however I noticed my existing steering knuckle is stamped "251-AG" in the forging. Does this mean my Vanagon has the wrong part? I checked another 86 GL with power steering, and it also is stamped "251-AG" I looked very carefully and it is absolutely not a "Q" it is a "G." You can plainly see the number, even with the knuckle installed on the car, just by looking at the part of the knuckle that shows above the tire as you're facing the hubcap.

I've owned this van for 15 years, I really doubt that both steering kuckles were replaced with the wrong ones in the first three years that the first owner had it, and I've never replaced 'em. The odds of the same thing happening to the reference Vanagon seems unlikely.

The dealer just shrugs; "I donno" - my repair shop says they "run into weird things like this all the time with VW part numbers" but have no other explanation.

So, my question is: if I'm going to replace a steering knuckle do I order a 251-G or a 251-Q? In other words, do I go with what was originally physically on the car (and also on an identical car), or go by what the VW Dealer's computer says the part number should be?

BK