Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2012 03:10:41 +0000
Reply-To: Skip <skiplaubach@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Skip <skiplaubach@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: '84 anti-sway bar down-link nut success
In-Reply-To: <4F541E3B.6020200@turbovans.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
"Other Dennis", you are correct that there was a bolt missing from the chassis bracket, except it's orange, not red (the sway bar is blue, thus The Fighting Illini is alive and well in my garage but not in Champaign at Assembly Hall today - lost to Wisconsin). Keen observation, thanks. I kept the chassis brackets "loose" while compressing and attaching the bottom nut to the down-link. Then tightened the chassis bolts/nuts last.
The sway bar and down-link is not a kit. I just got them sandblasted and I painted (etched primed, primed, painted) them in my college colors (wait till you see my engine compartment...). The down-link bushings and washers are from Van-Cafe, or maybe Ken at Van-Again, and the stainless steel sleeves (inside the bushings) are from T3.
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/902055.jpg < Link shows the 28 year old sleeves next to the T3 stainless sleeves.
http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/902365.jpg < Link shows corrected washer orientation and 1600 lb. "ratchet strap" (and tightened chassis bracket).
I blew through three "ratchet straps" of fellow member Mike S's before I bought the industrial strength "ratchet strap".
Now all tight and the nuts are firmly attached to the bottom of the down-links. Thanks "the" Dennis for catching my ill logic.
Scott, thanks for taking the time to quadruple (actually sixteen-tuple (4 washer/4 vans)) check.
Skip
----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Mon, 05 Mar 2012 02:00:27 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: '84 anti-sway bar down-link nut success
Hi,
I just looked at 4 original, undisturbed vanagons.
the 'bowl' of the washer is away from the rubber bushing side of the washer.
Reverse of what you'd think, I know.
Das how dey is.
scott
turbovans
On 3/4/2012 2:17 PM, den jolliffe wrote:
> Is it me or is there a bolt missing on the red bushing bracket to the chassis....
>
> Is that swaybar and link kit something new...I would be interested in where it was sourced...
>
> As far as the washers go, I've seen dozens of exploded views and hundreds of swaybars installed on race cars and stockers....the washer is shaped like the top of the bushing to "contain" its shape under load...if it is installed with the curved surface up, there is no containment, and the bushing can expand to wear out prematurely.
>
> Just my $.02
>
> Another Dennis
>
>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Skip
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Sent: Sunday, March 4, 2012 2:58:20 PM
>> Subject: Re: '84 anti-sway bar down-link nut success
>>
>> Thanks Dennis. I'll switch the washers around. I read an explanation on the samba and, if I remember correctly, the description was that the "convex" should face away from the bushing, which means the "concave" would face the bushing, which is incorrect. Maybe I read it wrong, but I spent a lot of time trying to interpret the description...
>>
>> BTW, my method of using the "ratchet strap" worked on the passenger side, but never worked on the driver side. Maybe I'll have better luck with the washers switched around.
>>
>> I will address the radius rod mounts. I appreciate your effort to take a look at things. Thank you.
>>
>> New springs are not that far off.
>>
>> Skip
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Dennis Haynes
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Sent: Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:15:12 -0000 (UTC)
>> Subject: Re: '84 anti-sway bar down-link nut success
>>
>> The washers are upside down, the cup should face away from the rubber.
>> Hard to tell from the picture but the rotors should be 11mm minimum thickness.
>> The radius rod mounts are most likely also shot. When they go the bushing-rod can wear out the hole in the chassis. Worn bad enough you have a welding repair there.
>> That corrosion on the springs can someday be a problem. The stresses from the corrosion can cause them to break.
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Skip
>> Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2012 11:03 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: '84 anti-sway bar down-link nut success
>>
>> http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/901951.jpg
>>
>> Finally succeeded in getting the nut on the anti-sway bar down-link threads. After fabricating two metal rectangles with half-circles (to accommodate the the down-link and making room for the nut at the bottom) with two threaded rods to turn a couple of nuts to compress the rectangles, thereby compressing the rubber bushings without success...I resorted to a "ratchet strap" and had the nut on in a matter of seconds.
>>
>> See photo link above.
>>
>> If you do view the photo I welcome any comments regarding the condition of the other bushings, etc. Thank you.
>>
>> Skip
>> Elgin, IL
>> '84 Westy, 1.9L WBXR
>>
>>
>>
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