Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 09:39:08 -0400
Reply-To: Daniel O Stevens <dosteven@SYR.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Daniel O Stevens <dosteven@SYR.EDU>
Subject: Re: Me Sad. Trip cancelled
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Neil, that rear trailing arm would do it's job if it was 1/2 the
original size (and properly curved/contoured)
but that rust is not new, not even the little spots further opened up.
Yes it gets a pushing load from the wheel
yes it gets a dragging load from the vehicle (trialing arm).
yes it gets a torqueing twist from road potholes and hard turns.
and yes I would NOT discontinue my immediate trip over this, but would
avoid rock climbing and curbs
and just drive it easy, more so to ease your own concerns.
I am not an expert in mechanical design, but I do play one on the
weekends
having designed my own rear suspension for my baja bug to allow 36"
tires and a smooth ride
I have put great thought into trailing arm design. and I have less
weight but allot more abuse and stresses
(can't see arms in this image, but can see some work I put them thru, I
am still on my 'prototypes'
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/269984.jpg)
as for MIG'ing that piece don't look at it as a body panel 'plug'
replacement
WRAP a repair well past the weakness just like a 'bandaid'
heat it up and beat it to match the curve of the piece, and if you have
to remove some of that ridge
it's ok.. Syncros with ~30" tires have to remove that ridge ALL the time
(own one of those too)
and they put far more stress on the arms..
one place that WOULD WORRY ME, that is often OVERLOOKED
the rear spring mount post on the trailing arm often corrodes and severs
from the arm.
this would allow the spring to spit out of the arm that that would be
VERY BAD.
ate: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 19:59:55 -0700
From: neil N <>
Subject: . Whining Content + Warning (PICS)
Hi all.
*sigh*
Ready to go to Catherine Creek for Wet Westies Reunion:
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/ReadyToGO.jpg/ReadyToGO-full;init:.jpg
<http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/ReadyToGO.jpg/ReadyToGO-full;init:.jpg>
But the issue in the pic below was on my mind. Pulled over just before
the border to check it:
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/TrailingArmHole1.jpg/TrailingArmHole1-fu
ll;init:.jpg
<http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/TrailingArmHole1.jpg/TrailingArmHole1-f
ull;init:.jpg>
While checking, I poked below. It now has little brothers:
http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/TrailingArmHoles.jpg/TrailingArmHoles-fu
ll;init:.jpg
<http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/TrailingArmHoles.jpg/TrailingArmHoles-f
ull;init:.jpg>
I did a LOT of work getting Jaco ready to travel, but couldn't see
driving it 2000 miles + this way. I know. It might have held, but it
was accelerating in it's growth.
Jake D had kindly warned me about the rust, which I dutifully kept an
eye on, but as I say, the hole opened up quickly over the last little
while. That's the part that scared me offa driving it very far/too
long.
F***.
Yah I'm whining but it just seems like a never ending "battle". It's
like I can't keep up. I know the job of R&R'ing the arms is not easy.
I swear. What's next? I feel like giving up. Anyhow....
So here's the thing:
Check out your rear trailing arms.
I AIN'T no expert and DON'T know how long a trailing arm in this
condition would be ok. But, I couldn't help but see in my minds eye,
all that weight and torque opening that hole up progressively faster
til it failed.
Not trying to scare anyone, but I can't imagine what it would be like
having that thing fail at the forward mount <shudder>.
End complaining. Kirk out.
Neil.
