Date: Thu, 19 May 2011 19:53:10 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: New steering rack bushings and Peanut Oil on my pipes...
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Work had my shop full of a drift boat that I was re-furbishing for a
client. For almost a month, I couldn't work on my van...I was going
through withdrawals. Up till just this last week it's rained so much and so
often that working out on the grass or gravel has not been very attractive.
Now, nothing really needed to be done, it's been running flawlessly...but
sheesh! I got really used to messing with it during the process of making
it like I want it...So...I finished and moved that boat out. Ran the van
right in and ....Bliss!
Put the van up and installed some polyurethane steering rack bushings that
have been sitting around here. About a year ago I'd replaced the old dry
ones with new rubber standard ones and that was a help, but I'd used poly
ones on other vehicles and knew that they are even better...They are. The
new ones make a noticeable difference, especially in gusty crosswinds, which
we have lots of here in the Columbia River Gorge. It took about an hour,
start to finish. The old one piece ones came out using some channel locks
to grip the edge of the cast steering rack with one jaw and put the other
jaw into the center of the bushing, then pry..
The fancy purple new ones are two piece with a Stainless bushing through
the center...easy to install with supplied lube. 84 vanagon without PS.
On one of the forums, someone was asking about powder coating his exhaust
system...Some listee said he'd always used Peanut oil on his pipes and it
worked just as well as anything to keep the rust down. My inline ABA VW...I
had some expensive collectors bent and welded into a nice exhaust, so I
gave them a Peanut Oil rub down. I have driven about 400 miles, some in the
rain...and they look....slick. Not a hint of new rust....I'm planning on
oiling them each time I change oil...about 3000 mi. intervals.
Next is a right front wheel bearing and a right side motor mount that I
have needed since I got this van 4yrs ago...
Don Hanson
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