Date:         Wed, 20 Dec 2006 09:21:18 -0700
Reply-To:     Richard A Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard A Jones <jones@COLORADO.EDU>
Subject:      Re: stabilizer link repair
Comments: To: Jake Beaulieu <jbeaulie@ND.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <20061220153251.7FF774C8005@mx14.Colorado.EDU>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

> How has this repair held up?  Any particular reason why you welded on an
> allen head bolt rather than a threaded rod?

JAKE:

NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAPS!  ;-)

The photo is of a R-side one, which I have never needed--yet.
The identically welded L-side one has been on the vehicle for
~10 years and 50K+ miles.  I broke a total of 5 stock ones--
4 left and one right.  I used to bash my '81 up jeep roads.
With no low rpm power, you have to hit things hard and fast
to carry over them; I think I just beat up the front end.
Now I have a Syncro Westy for that! (And just creep over stuff
in the granny low.)

The fix was arranged by my mechanic at a neighboring shop that
did racing stuff--'Merican muscle cars, I think.  That guy
welded the bolts on.  You can get bolts in different hardnesses.
I don't know about threaded rod, but would suspect it would be
a lot weaker material, but I don't know that for a fact.

If you found my post, I'll repeat:  Try to have the welded drop
link the same total length as the original or you will have
trouble installing it.  Mine are longer than stock.  We didn't
know at the time....

Good luck with your repair!

                                Richard

[PS: I'm copying in the list so this will go in the archives.]