Vanagon EuroVan
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Date:         Tue, 19 Oct 2004 14:07:05 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Ball Joints and Tie-Rod Ends -- Squeaking suspension [was Re:
              Nice 84 California Westy for sale in Seattle/Vancouver]
Comments: To: Craig Oda <craigoda@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <b3a1e7ad04101910169978c43@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 13:16 10/19/2004, Craig Oda wrote: >This van looks to be in great shape. I notice one picture that says >that the Ball Joints and Tie-rod ends were recently replaced. What do >these do?

The steering knuckle is suspended between the upper control arm (wishbone) and lower control arm by means of two ball-shaped sliding joints in rubber covers. It's attached to the tie-rod from the steering gear by another smaller variation on the principle. This allows it to be rigidly constrained in X and Y and angle of inclination (caster and camber), while being controlled in azimuth by the steering and allowed to move in Z subject to the balance between the road and the spring and shock. If your spacial imagination doesn't make sense of that don't worry, there are good exploded diagrams in the Haynes and Bentley books that will make it clear.

>My van makes a lot of squeaks both from the front and rear at >low-speed driving. It's fine on the highway. I've been wondering >what parts I need to replace, grease or clean to get the squeaks out >of the front and rear suspension. I've been thinking of just heading >in there with a wrench and start taking apart and reassembling parts >until I stumble across something.

Bad idea, grasshopper. IMO. This stuff is what's keeping your wheels rolling and pointing the same way and your van not rolling down the road spraying bits in all directions and smush-churning everything inside. Pays to understand it and work by the book -- bolt grade, specified torque, specified single-use parts etc. You'll need some comparatively large wrenches (22/24/27mm IIRC, maybe others) and will have to lift the van comparatively high for some things. Parts have noticeable price tags. Get a Haynes or Bentley or both. You do *not* have to use a spring compressor to work with the springs, so one major source of danger is alleviated.

Groaning/squeaking from in front tends to be the rubber/steel bushings at the inner end of the upper control arm. Doesn't matter but sure sets your teeth on edge, changes with humidity and splash. May be able to work some rubber lube in there for limited effect. New bushings are ?$50-75? per side, two each side. Replacing them isn't horrendous but it's by no means trivial, not a casual job. If one actually fails and becomes loose you'll get a marked and dangerous uncertainty in handling, but they can groan for years with no harm.

david

-- David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/ '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage," '85 GL "Poor Relation"


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