Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:53:00 -0700
Reply-To: Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject: Re: sick of replacing Control Arm Bushings every year
In-Reply-To: <BAY132-DS13472E8B13716F78DC6A7A06E0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
C'mon Dennis... you disappear for nearly 3.5 months and you just pop back in
without a hello, a hint of an explanation or even a kiss my @$$? Geez, man-
what up wit dat? : )
Welcome back, btw.
Cya,
Robert
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Dennis Haynes
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 7:42 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
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")