Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 15:19:52 -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 suspension
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that is high for upper ball joints and upper a-arm bushings..
might include alignment .
and probably roughly the price you will get anywhere.
Don't think about lower ball joints unless you really need them.
it's a trick job. See Bentley on that. Not a casual job at all.
upper BJ's are not too hard if things are not badly stuck.
upper a-arm bushings are not too bad..
see bently on that job. There are some tack welds to grind off, and to
re-tack weld...but you could take the arms to any welder and it's such a
small job they might not even charge you. Just seconds to quickly tach weld
them in place.
the long upper a-arm bolts.
All the ones I have ever seen were fine.
It's a very special bolt. I suppose they might be avialible in the
aftermarket somewhere.
But I've never needed new ones.
just start on one side and see how it goes.
measure you camber first with a level before taking it apart..
van sitting on the ground and suspension loaded.
ditto for toe-in ....changing those parts won't affect toe .
but it's a good , and easy thing to check.
scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Lincoln" <magikvw@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 1:08 PM
Subject: Front end suspension
> So I finally got a new tire and I took Gertie ('85 1.9) in to have an
> allignment done. They couldn't do it - said I need upper control arm
> bushings and upper ball joints. The shops price parts and labor was almost
> $800 - not saying that isn't fair (I'd bet it is) but I can't swing that.
>
> I sourced the parts and included lower ball joints and tie rod ends for
> less
> than $200 from our vendors. So the question is having never done this work
> myself, what does the esteemed list say for a project like this as a DIY
> project? Should I even try it? I could find myself some experienced help
> too.
>
> I know those upper control arm bushings need to be spot welded - that I'd
> need someone else for anyway.
>
> What other pit falls or hassles am I looking at?
>
> The guy at the shop said I might consider replacing the long mounting bots
> as well. What are your thoughts on that? Anyone have a part number or a
> source for those?
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
> '85 GL (Gertie)
> '90 Carat (Grover - the noble parts donor)
> '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus
