Date:         Tue, 23 May 2006 13:13:25 -0400
Reply-To:     Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: control arm bushings

Meyers , made in Germany,is the only brand I have seen. All the vendors
have them.Maybe you can find a second brand on ebay or something. I would
avoid a brand other than Meyers.

Shop all the vendors and get your best price. You will need 4 of them.They
are expensive, and you want to still be able to pay the mortgate when you
are done.

You will need a gas station to  grind off the old tack  weld,press the old
ones out ,and press the new ones in. Get each new bushing tack  welded.This
work may cost more than the new bushings.Before you contract a gas station
to so the work,make sure they have an electric welder to do the tack weld.
A gas welder will make too much heat, and fry the plastic inside your new
bushings. Lastly, I have seen recently on the list, that when all the work
is done, and the control arm is reinstalled,the arm must be able to fall
under its own weight , when lifted to the highest.Never tried this myself ,
though. Any comments from the list, here?

At the same time you do the bushings, get a new upper ball joint($10 each),
new shocks, and an alignment.Check the rubber boot on the lower control
arm.If it is torn, you need lots more new parts and press work, and
installation work. Better do the whole front end in that case.

Do note that a late(late 85,onward), cast iorn front suspension parts give
a much much better ride, and it is  worth the effort to acquire these parts
for rebuilding over the sheet metal parts.Have fun.