Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2010 17:27:10 -0800
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 Shocks - Help or How Much $? (Portland OR)
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Hi Bretts,
sure sounds like a broken front spring to me.
As you may know, the shock contributes nothign toward holding the van up ...
they only dampen srping action.
So with a front shock on that side installed ...
the van would sit level.
Sounds like a broken front spring to me.
re your questions ..
if you are doing the work yourself...
first step is to disasemble, inspect, determine what parts are worn, shot
etc.
if you're not doing that yourself...then some shop or friend who's going to
work on it etc.
In any case,
the first step is a Thorough Evaluation ..
then get after parts etc.
If you have been getting by with sqeuaky upper a-arm inner bushings ..
and they are not loose or worn ...i.e. 'no play' ...
you could leave those as they are for now.
they can be dealt with separately later with no 'extra labor' penalty.
I have various choices in springs btw.
How about a set of 2WD Schwench ( syncro.org I think ) ...
slighlty used, but look new and shiny ..
they're a set of four, for a 2WD vanagon ..they are a bit taller and a bit
stiffer.
I should try them on one of my vans actually ...
just so many projects.
nice that many of your van issues mishaps happend right at the end of a big
trip !
Very cooperative of your van ..
obviously good karma !
scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "C B" <cunegonde.van.westfalia@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, December 26, 2010 1:36 PM
Subject: Front Shocks - Help or How Much $? (Portland OR)
>I hope all are enjoying the ending year.
>
> After an uneventful Portland-Palo Alto round trip, on Xmas eve a few
> miles from Portland there was a shimmy while driving on the highway
> and a loud chassis bang as we exited I-5. Uh-oh! Brakes? CV joint? The
> sound of rubber scraping metal ensued - a tire hitting the wheelwell.
> Suspension, then. We pulled into a parking lot and I looked underneath
> - nothing obvious hanging down, all tires inflated properly. The
> driver's side front tire was completely sunk within the wheel arch
> (explaining the rubbing noise, particularly while turning), while the
> passenger side had more than 2" of clearance. We limped home the last
> two miles in 1st gear. This is the 3rd time in 3 years the van has
> broken down walking distance from the house. (The last two were the
> water pump+transmission 3/4 gear slider, next the driver's side axle
> falling off)
>
> Soaking wet and without jackstands, I made a more thorough inspection
> today. Even with the driver's front wheel off, I can't see any
> obviously broken or misaligned parts, just the collapsed driver's
> front shock, and marks in the grime on the shock housing and coil
> interior where they made contact. The shocks are probably OEM
> Boge/Sachs, or some budget brand with a black casing.
>
> So, here're the Qs for the List:
> 1) Should I buy HD Biltsteins or Konis? Other consumable parts I
> should get to go along (such as the bushings for the top mounting
> plates)? I have HD rear springs and OEM front. I am in the process of
> upgrading every part as I go, after the POs did everything on the
> cheap.
> 2) Anyone in the Portland, OR area have HD spring compressors I can
> borrow or rent?
> 3) Suggestions for Portland local shop and price estimates for a shock
> swap only?
> 4) How much more shop time and $$ for simultaneously replacing the
> squeaky worn upper A-Arm bushings? I know this requires a press and
> specialized tools, neither of which I have, nor the ability to
> fabricate.
>
> Thanks guys.
>
> --
> Bretts
>
> 1983 1.9l WBX Ivory Westfalia "Cunegonde"
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