Date:         Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:09:21 -0500
Reply-To:     John Meeks <vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Meeks <vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Upper COntrol Arm Bushing '85 GL
Comments: To: Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <c803c1a71003090944y60d17177nbc883bbe0c8422dc@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Jeff~

If you know of a shop with a press and an arc welder, take the arm and the
new bushings to them. It's like a 15 minute deal to have them grind off the
old weld, press out the old bushings, press in  the new ones and put a tack
weld on the bushings. The arc is preferred cause it's fast and won't heat up
the bushing as much as a gas weld.

John Meeks
'91 Multivan
Northern Michigan

Vanagon Rescue Squad
http://www.vanagonauts.com/Vanagon_Rescue_Squad74.htm

Radio Call:KC8ZFN


On Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 12:44 PM, Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@gmail.com> wrote:

> Ok, so I knew before I picked Gertie up that she would need the Upper
> COntrol Arm bushings replaced. Common issue - no problem.
>
> So I was doing some research and ran into an article at Go Westy - an
> exerpt
> from that article here:
>
> *The next most common way an installation can go awry is specific to 2WD
> A-arms. 2WD A-arms are made of stamped steel sheets. 4WD A-arms are crafted
> from a thicker, forged design. To retain the bushing in the 2WD stamped
> arm,
> it is necessary to use a small weld. It's a very small spot weld that is
> required, followed by a quick quench in water right away before the plastic
> part of the bushing melts. If your weld is too large, or if you do not
> quench it quickly enough... heehaw heehaw heehaw.
> *
> I trust the experience there at Go Westy - so I'm not really questioning
> this - but then again maybe I am :) (I know I'm confusing)
>
> So what's up with the spot weld scenario above? I don't get it. This also
> means if I follow this that I can't do the replacement myself - because I
> CAN'T WELD!!
>
> I don't know that I have an actual question here - I'd just like to hear
> others opinion and experience with this I guess. Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> '85 GL (Gertie)
> '90 Carat (Grover - the noble parts donor)
> '86 (We call this one Scrap)
> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
>