Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2008 21:46:15 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Tie Rods
In-Reply-To: <BB0F2665-A4C9-4070-9F86-BADA20FAEC72@GMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Thank YOU Kevin, It's great to get positive feedback, and if I can help you
or others,. That's the idea !
Btw, I cringe when I read 'replace everything' .
You can get too far out in left field that way,
Aftermarket parts are not always that great,
For example, I read about a fancy car shop that had german Meyle brand ball
joints fail on BMW's in as little as 30K miles, when they should last 100K,
so 'NEW' is not always best.
That's a common after market brand for vanagon suspension parts, btw.
Defenitely built for a low price.
A serviceable part, or new OE- grade part, working in concert with other
serviceable parts, and adjusted, lubed, maintained and inspected on a
regular basis - that's what works, and is more cost effective too.
I had this 'friend' use a vanagon of mine for about a year. I watched him
back out of the shop one day. Every time he went to do a steering input, he
JERKED the wheel, at low speed I'm talking, like maneuvering around, like
parking. Big ole guy, 350 lbs at least.
When I got that van back, the steering rack was wasted, right at the outer
ends like I suggested you check.
It's SO easy to be easy on equipment, really.
Some people just really trash cars, ruin the shift linkage, the steering
etc.
Sorry to go on,
Checked out this pretty nice sunroof 84 yesterday,
The guy started it, and just revved the piss out of it instantly, huge smoke
cloud, rattly lifters, and air-cooled bus guy, guess that's how he starts
them, but I already am concerned about the wear on the poor pistons and rods
revving it that hard, that fast, and after it had been sitting a few weeks.
I mean he went from 'it's fired up to it's revved hard in half a second' .
You always start it as gently as you can, let it idle 30 seconds or so, then
drive off gently. ( and no sitting around 'warming it up !! ) And take it
easy the first few minutes. Not hard to figure that out I don't think.
Thanks for your good words again, it feels good.
Scott
www.turbovans.com <http://www.turbovans.com/>
-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Carrubba [mailto:kcarrubba@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 9:26 PM
To: Scott Daniel - Shazam
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: Tie Rods
Hi Scott,
Thank you for sharing your experience, I appreciate it. Sounds like were on
the same page on the if it ain't broke don't fix it. I sold my 70 bug
recently because the replacement parts were making the car unreliable.
Looks like I need to check the rack first, great idea I would have never
thought to check that.
Thanks Again
Kevin
On Mar 5, 2008, at 7:51 PM, Scott Daniel - Shazam wrote:
They're not weak or usually failing on vanagons in my experience.
I tend to leave good working parts in service.
Depending on what you get as a replacement, the replacement ones may not
even be as well made as originals from 'the fatherland.'
It's not a full alignment of course, but you can adjust toe just fine
yourself without getting a whole official alignment,
You can even center the steering wheel ( besides just re-spline-ing it
where it attaches to the steer shaft ) by figuring out which tie rod to
lengthen or shorten while you dial in the toe.
However a full real alignment of course is much better.
I would say tie rods only fail from jillioins of miles, or out of round
tires, or out of balance tires, or tires feathered from not having it
alignment, or worn shocks.
'by themselves' they don't just wear out really, or not that easily. It's
all the other factors.
I see a hundred different vanagon tie rods a year, and barely find one or
two bad, if that. Vanagon front ends are really good,
You keep good smooth balanced tires on there, and good shocks,
And drive it nice - vanagon front ends last really well.
Tips - don't wrench of the rack itself undoing the inner ends if you can
help it.
Count threads when you unscrew the outer end, so you can get back close.
If it's just the outer 'ball pivot' at the wheel that's bad, you can just
replace that. They are ALL, fortunately, right hand thread where they screw
on the tie rod. That helps a lot. Some cars have left threads on one end,
right on the other, and some people mix 'em up, or you forget which way to
turn it to adjust toe, it's a mess, but another GREAT things about vanagons
is the tie rod ends both have right hand threads.
Have fun !
Do good work. And just to be clear, the 'right thing' is a full complete
alignment afterwards. The tie rods are so reliable, that I think I'd take
good original ones over aftermarket ones many times.
Check tires for out of roundness and trueness while it's up.
Tire balance has to be decent too, otherwise it beats the tie rods and rack.
Oh ! - make sure your play at the wheel is really tie rods and not the
bushing in the end of the rack being shot, allowing up down movement there,
which shows up as what appears to be tie rod play out at the wheel.
And gotta have medium decent shocks at least too of course.
Scott
www.turbovans.com <http://www.turbovans.com/>
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Kevin Carrubba
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 7:32 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Tie Rods
HI Folks,
I'm back in lurker mode as my van is finally starting to dry off after
another wet winter. I'm noticing my right tie rod has some play in it
and I"m sure needs replacing as it has not been replaced since I have
owned the van. So is it recommended to do both sides? The other side
seems tight but I would hate to do this and need another alignment a
week later. I've never done these before any things to watch out for?
Thanks
Kevin
87 Westy EJ22
Vashon WA
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