Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:42:04 -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: sick of replacing Control Arm Bushings every year
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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")
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