Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 17:52:29 -0800
Reply-To: Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Subject: Re: Swapping '86 front end onto '82
In-Reply-To: <420CE3BF.8030602@mchsi.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Al,
Of course, you are right - I just put a magnet on my '88! I simply assumed the cast
lower CA was aluminum, as this seemed like a logical move toward improving things,
whereas cast iron does not. Perhaps there is an improvement in stiffness, given the
more complex nature of the Vanagon control arm (with the radius rod tie in) versus
simpler designs like the A1/A2 models. I don't know of any other VW model where
cast iron supplanted a stamped steel part... I wonder why this was done on the
Vanagon?
All this time I assumed it was aluminum - am I the only one?
On 11 Feb 2005 at 10:56, Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@mchsi.com> wrote:
> Uh guys, the lower control arms are cast IRON on the late 85 & up. While
> it may affect the ride quality I cannot believe it would be for the
> better. This is why many new 4wd American pickups use aluminum
> suspension members- to reduce the unsprung weight.
> Having said that, I will agree that there seems to be something of a
> different feel between the early (81-83) and late (86-91) Vanagons that
> I have owned/ driven. and almost all the parts are the same or very
> similar. I cannot speak to the 84-85 because I've never owned one.
> I would say that the late model feels very much heavier more and stable.
> But not entirely better. The earlier cars seem more nimble and lighter.
> Perhaps the air-cooleds are lighter, but even my 82 feels that way when
> I take my 2500lbs of junk out of it.
> Obviously, these are somewhat subtle differences and perhaps not what
> you'd notice the first time in a test drive.
> I'd rather assumed that it was mostly due to the power steering. The
> stable feeling might be great for some, but I've spent that last 25
> years driving too fast (white knuckled!) in type 2 vw's and the
> occasional 356 and 911 Porsche and I kinda like that light steering feeling. I
> think people should learn to look beyond the feeling that newer is better, even
> in the evolution of the vanagon. Certainly some things were improved, but many
> were just to save money or make it more marketable. I seriously doubt the cast
> iron lower control arms make much difference in ride or handling. They were
> probably brought out because they were cheaper to manufacture than the steel
> fabbed ones. I doubt they are stronger than steel, but the steel ones are a
> little more vulnerable to rust damage (as are the rears, as well!). I think
> Vanagon owners in rust prone areas should check or replace their lower control
> arm bushings, as well as the uppers. I have found severe hidden damage in these
> bushings that wasn't visible, but the car just didn't feel right. Replacing the
> bushings, put it back right. There was over 1/4" of built up rust scale on the
> inner steel of the bushings and it had destroyed the rubber in there. Al Brase
>
>
> Shawn Wright wrote:
>
> >On 10 Feb 2005 at 16:39, Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >>Hello,I recently did the complete front end rebuild on an early 85(sheet
> >>metal lower control arm).It was successful,and works great,but that cast
> >>iorn lower control arm suspension is the only way to go(expensive
> >>hindsite) .That arm acts like a flywheel and absobls road shock instead of
> >>transmitting it to you.To do it again, I would get the cast iorn parts I
> >>needed and press out the old and press in the new, and have everything ready
> >>to go .I would then strip out the sheet metal parts and install my refurbishes
> >>cast iorn parts/without a lot of down time.The ride difference is like night
> >>and day.Those old parts will make a great boat anchor!
> >>
> >>
> >
> >Interesting - I had never considered the possibility of the cast arm affecting
> >ride quality that much due to its composition. I knew it would reduce unsprung
> >weight (it is cast aluminum, so should be a fair bit lighter), and should
> >improve handling slightly as a result. Something I'll have to keep in mind.
> >There are so many differences between my '88 and '82 vans, that I can't really
> >determine the causes for difference in "feel".
> >
> >Thanks for the info.
> >--
> >Shawn Wright
> >I.T. Manager
> >Shawnigan Lake School
> >
> >
> >
>
--
Shawn Wright
I.T. Manager
Shawnigan Lake School
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