Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2010 14:03:09 -0800
Reply-To: Evan Mac Donald <evanm@ATT.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Evan Mac Donald <evanm@ATT.NET>
Subject: Re: Front Shocks - Help or How Much $? (Portland OR)
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTikfUtrNbd8LM8b7j5B+oeK_D0oWci3jCVnUiiV+@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
You have bigger problems than just a broken shock! Shocks don't generally effect
ride height much, and certainly not enough to put the wheel up into the wheel
well. THAT sounds more like a broken spring, or possibly a broken spring mount.
The broken shock might just have knocked the spring out of place, or it may be
the spring broke first, and took the shock with it. Either way, look to the
spring!
And there is good news - the springs can be removed and replaced without a
compressor. Get the van up on good stands - not ramps - and just pop the ball
joints, and let the lower A-arm down SLOWLY. The shock must be removed first,
but that part you need to do anyway... ;-P
________________________________
From: C B <cunegonde.van.westfalia@GMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Sun, December 26, 2010 4:36:25 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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