Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:44:05 -0400
Reply-To: Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: sick of replacing Control Arm Bushings every year
In-Reply-To: <009301c9c831$08ef4120$6401a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Scott,
Was that liquid disinfectant soap, liquid moisturising soap, bars
soap or soap-on-a-rope? I think soap-on-a-rope would be a little
easier to handle for the occasional lathering.
On 4/28/09, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> fwiw..........
> on a trip a friend mentioned that since we had been driving in rain for a
> few hours, the squaking of the front bushings had stopped.
> hmmmm.........
> I also knew these bushings were basically OK, not badly worn, just good used
> OE bushings probably.
>
> In the past I have tried spray lubing them with silicone, WD-40 etc.
> ......which seems to have no affect.
> So I treid spraying them with a mixture of water and dish soap, right in
> place on the van, if they are squeaking.
> totally unorthadox I know ........
> but it seems to work.
> On that particular van I didn't hear any squeaking, or even think of the
> front upper bushings for months and months after that.
> scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
> btw, my style is to fine tune, and 'massage to health' decent parts in good
> conditon, rather than attack the van with 'all new parts.'
> I find having serviceable parts in fine tune, and well lubed, adjusted, and
> carefully and correctly installed, etc. quite satisfying, and able to
> deliver excellent results. I even get very nervous when someone wants
> 'everything new.'
> That in my book is an opportunity to 'loose' what you have, and introduce
> all kinds of new uncertainties.
> I believe that ground can easily be lost by 'just replacing' lots of parts,
> and newly obtained parts often don't seem to be as good as the original
> ones, or ones acquired say 15 years ago.
> One of my sayings in cooling systems is 'cooler is not better, warmer is.'
> ( i.e. it's very important that engine run fully up to temperature )
>
> a new one about 'all new parts ' could be ............
> "............... 'All New Parts' ...............is not at all neccessarily
> better than good quality serviceable parts installed, adjusted, and lubed
> carefully and correctly." ........something like that.
>
> I also think it's good to have 'hands on' semi-frequently ......like say
> front suspension.......then you get to make sure things are not rusted or
> stuck,
> you get to inspect for wear, and so forth.
> wahtever - have a great day all !
> scott
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 7:41 PM
> Subject: Re: sick of replacing Control Arm Bushings every year
>
>
>> These bushings are simply a bad design. I have found the Meyle are usually
>> the smoothest and quietest. The Febi tends to bind and squeak. On the
>> stamped metal control arms, (non Syncro) a hammer and flat plate will
>> knock
>> them out and push the new ones in. The spot weld should be done with a MIG
>> and just a small spot will do.
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>> pickle vanagon
>> Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 6:48 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: sick of replacing Control Arm Bushings every year
>>
>> My drivers side upper control arm bushings are screaming like crazy.
>> These
>> are new Meyle bushings, installed a little over a year ago. The Meyle
>> bushings I had installed on the passenger side at the same time went bad
>> almost right away. I replaced those last summer with Febi bushings which
>> have held up so far (fingers crossed).
>>
>> I am careful when installing them (and know not to tighten them all the
>> way
>> before lowering the van for example) and think a lot of the parts are just
>> bad. I have seen other people post similar frustrating experiences with
>> these bushings (including some who had problems with the Febi bushings).
>>
>> Does anyone know where to get a decent bushing? I've had bushings from
>> different list vendors that all went bad (they were all Meyle bushings,
>> the
>> Febi bushings I had just picked up from a Flaps in a hurry). Is there a
>> chance I'll get better quality if I cough up the money to get them from
>> the
>> dealer? (Presumably then there would at least be a warranty I could
>> collect
>> on without too much hassle.)
>>
>> The worst part about changing these so often is that I can't even do it
>> all
>> myself. Once I remove the control arm, I have to take it somewhere and
>> pay
>> someone to press the new bushings in.
>>
>> Sorry for the griping! I just can't believe how problematic these
>> bushings
>> seem to be!
>>
>> -Wes
>> '83 1.9l manual westy ("pickle")
>
--
Sent from my mobile device
Chris S.
Disclaimer: "Death and serious injury may occur"
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