Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 21:02:16 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Thanks! (was: Trailing Arm) + Opinions please. PICS
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well..............
where 'safety equipment' .........or critical components are involved.......
one way to look at is rather black and white.
You retire a climbing rope after 5 good falls on it.
You retire a climbing rope when it's 4 years old, whether it's been used or
not.
and so forth. That's the only way to be on critical
stuff............helicopter main rotor blades get replaced after so many
hours on them, period. Regardless of what they look like. Or maybe the
test them and re-certify them...........point is, for critical safety items,
like major suspension components..........you can look at it that way.
In Germany in the annual inspection they'd impound your van on the spot.
A major suspension component...........well you can tell where I'm, going
with this.
And I'm not 'hyper' about what's kosher and not - I can get away with things
just fine that are a bit iffy......
but ..........
the cost and potential cost of abrupt failure of this component
............you could experience instant loss of directional control.
It's possible to even kill someone besides yourself .
You have to figure that this rust is the tip of the iceberg too.
It's rusted from the inside out quite possibly.
Look in by the axles to the inside of the trailing arm .................you
might see significant rust there.
If it wasn't right next to a forward mounting point...............I might be
less concerned.
you get my drift.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
just 'get on it' and change that mutha !
rust is so easy to stop too, especially surface rust. it's child's play to
stop almost permantently.
----- Original Message -----
From: "neil N" <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 11:13 AM
Subject: Thanks! (was: Trailing Arm) + Opinions please. PICS
> Hi all.
>
> Thanks VERY much for the insights, info and encouragement (read:
> setting me straight --- :^) regarding my trailing arm. Still, I have
> no real visual point of reference for this, so would appreciate
> opinions re pics below.
>
> After some light claw hammer and wire wheel action, this seems to be
> the worst of it:
>
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/TrailingArmHole3.jpg/TrailingArmHole3-full;init:.jpg
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/TrailingArm4.jpg/TrailingArm4-full;init:.jpg
>
> Still ok to drive for a while?
>
> I won't be rock climbing with it!
>
> I understand some may be hesitant to offer an opinion, but I'm the
> owner/operator so I won't hold anyone else responsible! --- :^)
>
> Thanks!
>
> Neil.
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson '81 JettaWesty "Jaco
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
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