Date: Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:01:54 -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: front end reassembly: strut bar
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One thing to consider on those metal tubes that go through the strut rod
bushings is that they may be hardened metal, not just 'any' ole metal tube.
In my case I just found not trashed good used ones. They can wear badly
enough to start wearing out the strut rod shaft too.
Fortunately I had a good used one of those too.
about 'do it all at once'
please don't anyone read past here unless you want to -
there are two sides to that 'do it all at once' thing...or more sides than
only two.
On the one hand ...if you do it all at once you will gain more for the time
invested, namely only have to work on it only once. Granted, more efficient
that way ..
and is why most of my projects 'get big' since if I am going to touch this
part, then I should address that thing right next to it, and if I'm going to
do that one ..then I should to this one too ....etc. etc. And since it's
got surface rust right there....well, got to treat that too.
I'm saying that since projects grow so much in size anyway, I try to keep
them more finite, and will work on just one part of something here,and some
more there, lest they turn into just monster projects that take forever to
get done.
and cost ...doing it 'all at once' involves more outlay of cash at once. (
or you can gradually accumulate the parts over time in advance )
And ....'replacing everything at once' .......exposes you to the danger of
new parts these days may not be as well made and durable as the original
ones. .
another 'negative factor' about Doing it All at Once is .........often the
project gets put off for a long, long time and things are worse when someone
finally gets in there, as opposed to if someone did part of it here and
there is smaller steps.
Personally, I replace worn parts, and keep good parts in service.
But then it's fun and rewarding for me to work on it, and I don't mind if I
do part of it now, and part of it in 6 months.
there is the time factor too relative to badly rusted or stuck things
........if things are stuck, or rusted, corroded etc...the sooner you find
out about it, the better off you are.
So I would vote for some careful inspection, and repair what is shot, and
keep the rest in service.
I find so many things badly stuck and rusted together, that I can't help but
think that the disassembly and reassembly is, *in itself* good for the
van -you know things are not terminally stuck together. In other words,
working on the van is good for it, in general.
If we are going to operate these wonderful vans at 25+ years of age ...
it's good to keep all of it well-treated against rust and corrosion, and
making sure things are not stuck together horribly, because if they are, it
only gets worse with time. And applying 'just the right amount of energy'
to 'just the right place at the right time'....
I find that fun, rewarding, and efficient. And not too costly either.
maybe the Vanagon Gods smile upon your Van ..and all the parts contained
within.
Sure would like to have a 'drive through' WD-40 Trough .......about 20 feet
long and 18 inches deep. These vans would love that !
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shawn Wright" <vwdiesels@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:18 PM
Subject: Re: front end reassembly: strut bar
> Neil,
>
> Since you're in BC, where'd you get the parts? Looks like BD and Van-Cafe
> have them, but anyone else? If they can be had locally, I might consider
> diving in and doing mine while I'm doing the shocks. On the other hand, I
> should probably wait until I can replace everything affecting alignment
> all
> at once I guess...
>
> On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 12:15 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Good to know.
>>
>> In hindsight, one could measure new rubber bushing and strut arm
>> diameters. Measuring length of old part should suffice.
>>
>> Neil.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 10:37 AM, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net>
>> wrote:
>> > I think they are available again somewhere. I made some from stainless
>> pipe
>> > that are not quite the right outer diameter, though they do barely
>> squeeze
>> > into the rubbers.
>> >
>> > Mark
>> >
>> > neil n wrote:
>> >>
>> >> On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 9:16 AM, neil n<musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >> Beware that the metal sleeves are likely NLA.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>>
>> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>>
>>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Shawn Wright
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