Date:         Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:05:30 -0700
Reply-To:     Christopher Renz <eucasafari@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Christopher Renz <eucasafari@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fw: front suspension rebuilding (squeak squeak)
Comments: To: Gary Stearns <gstearns@OPTONLINE.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <001601c88f95$8ed08b30$6401a8c0@downstairs>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

It was wierd that you got this message and I never saw it show up on the
list?

Anyway, that sounds interesting. I don't know if these have ever been
changed or not.

Is there anything else I should change while im in there?

Gary Stearns wrote:

> I got sick of the squeaking years ago and decided I was going to try to
> figure out why these upper bushings had such a short life.  What I
> found was
> that no matter who manufactured the parts, the seal on the outside (where
> the plastic meets the outer metal shell) always failed.  I cut open a
> few of
> my failed bushings and always found rust damage and washed-out lubricant.
> When walking through the plumbing dept. at Home Depot, I had an
> idea.   Each
> of my upper control arm bushings is now enclosed in a black rubber (or
> vinyl) pipe cap that I think are used to close up sewer pipes no longer
> being used.   I found one diameter that was perfect to fit snugly
> around the
> outside of the bushing.  You'll have shorten the cap a little so that it
> will just butt up against the control arm.  Surround with a stainless
> hose
> clamp, tighten down, and no more water damaged bushings.  I haven't heard
> that stupid squeak in almost 3 years now.
>
> Gary
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Christopher Renz" <eucasafari@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:25 PM
> Subject: front suspension rebuilding (squeak squeak)
>
>
>> so its time to do the upper control arm bushings, at least on the pass
>> side anyway.
>> I can't turn the radio up loud enough to drown the noise out anymore.
>>
>> I know I need to do the Upper ball joints as well, but what else should
>> be done at the same time, if it saves in labor from having to pull it
>> all apart again later?
>>
>> I want to have all the parts on hand when I take her in, since I can
>> source them so much cheaper than the local shop (and they dont mind.)
>>
>> It looks like about $25 a pop for the upper control arm bushings, and 2
>> per side, so thats $100 bones right there. blech.
>
>