Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2010 19:38:47 -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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I'D suggest Halsey Automotive .
I don't think are the best shop on the planet,
but they are vanagon savvy and should be able to fix it competently.
Many shops will want to 'do everything' though ..
and turn it into a 1,000 dollar deal.
if you didn't quite follow that from Dennis about those large rubber donut
things on the strut rods ...
that is an area that could likely be pretty tired on your van.
If it's just shot rubber bushings there...
and put new ones in, and attend to alignment .........no big deal.
what happens when those bushing have been badly worn for a long time is
..the rod that goes through there ...starts contacting the frame ( chassis )
..
and that hole which is about an inch in diameter ..
can get very trashed or ovaled out.
then it's a matter of welding to repair the frame there....something you
want to avoid if possible.
And seriously ..
you might be able to just pop in a used spring...and keep it simple .,,,,,
but that's a pretty intense job ............and can be dangerous,
and there's a fair chance the front end needs 'more'.
A competent shop can keep you on track for doing it right ..
and no risk to your body/fingers/hands etc.
almost always, if they do one side they want to do both sides..
and an alignment after the parts have been replaced is standard procedure ..
so one broken part can turn into a project actually.
tip of the iceberg kinda thing.
if someone knows of a better shop there...
great, otherwise Halsey is my vote.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "C B" <cunegonde.van.westfalia@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, December 26, 2010 6:50 PM
Subject: Re: Front Shocks - Help or How Much $? (Portland OR)
> Thank you, contributing to the list wisdom suggesting a broken front
> spring. After raising and lowering Cunegonde several times and tilting
> her from side to side to listen for noises and look for visibly busted
> parts, all I get is the sagging front driver side corner. So, I will
> shop for new(er) front springs and various bushings (certainly my
> upper a-arms, which squeak appallingly, and the anti-sway bar
> bushings, which are cracked).
>
> Now the questions to you all are -
> - Where to rent the spring compressors in Portland, OR or
> - What's the best shop for the job in Portland
>
>
> Much appreciation, folks!
>
>
> On Sun, Dec 26, 2010 at 6:40 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>> As many have already offered you most likely broke a spring. This is
>> becoming a common occurrence as these springs are well past there useful
>> life. Add some rust (stress risers) and broken springs happen. Since you
>> will have to some disassembly to change it, consider a thorough
>> inspection
>> and overhaul of the complete suspension. An often overlooked part is the
>> front strut (radius) rod mounts. These wear in the center and when really
>> worn can damage the chassis where the rods are attached. If the
>> suspension
>> really drops it is possible for the ball joints to be damaged from being
>> pushed past their normal angles.
>>
>> Events like this are a main reason one has to give thought to oversize
>> tires
>> and other suspension mods.
>>
>> Dennis
