Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2007 09:52:10 -0700
Reply-To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Sway bar bushings-Poor shape..
In-Reply-To: <002a01c7ef02$434de560$c4b2d8d1@dhanson>
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When I first got my 81' Westy, it didn't even have a front stabilizer
bar. Maybe it broke and PO never put it back. Maybe a scrap metal
thief took it !! Fortunately a local mechanic had one and installed
it.
I noticed a difference when it was installed. Regardless, the van is
still affected *greatly* by strong cross winds. Upgrading to HD
Bilstiens helped. I'm sure that in my case, better tires would help.
Running Nexen's right now.
Of course my front end is getting pretty squeeky. Pretty sure it's
rubber bushings, but it does beg for my attention. I have to get under
there and have a look soon.
Neil.
--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
"Jaco" (Bustorius)
http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
Please send fav Vanagon/Westfalia links to me at:
musomuso1963@hotmail.com
On 9/4/07, Don Hanson <dhanson@gorge.net> wrote:
> As I spelunked around under my van looking at stuff, I noticed my front
> sway bar drop link bushings were very sloppy. I saw some 'polished' area on
> the bar itself where the bushings have been 'scooching' back and forth
> rather than cleanly transferring the body sway load/motion to the bar..
> I bet this may partially explain how sensitive my van seems to be to
> cross-gusts of wind. Living in the Columbia River Gorge, the windsurfing
> capitol of the USA, there are plenty of cross-gusty days. The way my van
> handles these conditions is very distracting. Actually it is the one thing
> I dislike about driving my van..dealing with it's tendency to be pushed
> "off-line" very quickly in the gusts. When it is windy from the side, it is
> 'white-knuckle time' in my van..You don't dare take a hand off the wheel or
> glance away from your intended path for even a few seconds..The van seems to
> resume it's intended path naturally, but a strong gust will move you quickly
> across the road half way into the oncoming lane, if you neglect to correct
> with the steering wheel. You must drive very attentively in side winds to
> avoid death or unintended agricultural excursions.
> All the other components of the suspension check out, so maybe after I get
> the bushings replaced, I will just have a 'normal' Shoebox to deal with in
> the side winds..
> Don Hanson
>
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