Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2007 08:33:19 -0500
Reply-To: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 1985 Vanagon - front steering column "u-joint"
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2007110202171000@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I got mine locally and installed them less than a week ago, so I can
probaby tell you whatever you want to know about them.
I'm talking about the rubber joints, but I replaced the V-box as well
since it had a "flat" spot in the center and a noticeable mesh of
gears as it was turning.
So there are two alphabet parts to deal with, the U-joints and the V-box.
The first thing to look at are the U-joints, the flexible joints that
make use of the rubber plates. My local shop had brazilian and german
ones, I opted for the higher-priced german ones at about $12.00 each.
There are three. The two on the bottom, above and below the v-box
(which the Bentley refers to as the reverse box, or something like
that) are exposed to the weather and are more likely to be
deteriorated than the upper one between the steering shaft and the
output of the steering rack. The steering rack, by the way, is much
more likely to be worn out than the V-box. The V-box is said to seldom
go bad, but mine did.
If you determine that it is the mechanical assembly of the V-box and
not the just the rubber parts, be prepared for a shock. The dealer
wants nearly $1000 for the part, and Ken Wilford of Vanagain happened
to have one new unit left and I bought it (for a lot less than the
dealer wanted). Anyway, they are difficult to come by in anything but
a complete dismantle because they are required to make the body
steerable. I had a difficult time finding a used one that anyone
wanted to part with.
Removing the box is not too difficult. Drop the windshield fluid
reservoir by removing the 3 10 mm screws and work the pump assembly
straight up out of the reservoir so it won't be hanging in your face
to get to the "outside" two bolts. Remove the lower radiator cover so
you can sit in front of the car and remove the two "inside" bolts.
Two 13 mm wrenches wil be needed to disassemble the U-joints beneath
the pedals in the car and under the car. The V-box will remove out the
bottom.
Pay attention to the 90 degree relationship of the U-joints to the
v-box upon reassembly. Also pay attention to the fact that the horn
wire attaches to the upper of the two U-joint assemblies and runs to a
spade connector on the upper half of the inner steering shaft.
The tricky part of reassembly will come with the last bit of rubber
needs to go in. It won't fit without loosening the collar and removing
the clamping bolt of the lower joint so the joint half can slide down
and give enough room for the rubber piece to fit in. If this doesn't
make sense now, it will make perfect sense when you go to do it.
Now that the rubber is in place, you can't get the clamping bolt in
because it is pushed out of alignment with the groove in the shaft.
This problem can be solved by finding just the right size of
screwdriver blade to fit between the v-box and the coupler (it has to
be pretty sharp) and prying the coupler up the splined shaft so that
the clamping bolt will slip through its groove, and it might need a
few taps. The rest is trivial. Be sure to hook up your horn.
Jim
On 11/2/07, Miguel Pacheco <mundopacheco@gmail.com> wrote:
> Larry, I just sold my last (used) one to a local shop. I was hunting down
> parts for a Toyota truck and noticed they had an 85 Vanagon sitting out
> front. I told them that if they needed any parts, quick, I had them. The
> owner replied that he needed this steering U-joint and that it was worth
> 100.00 to him. I don't know who carries them, but, for the owner to offer
> the 100.00 right out of the box, it suggests that this item is pricey.
> Good luck. Miguel
>