Date: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 22:29:22 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: LowerControlArmBushingSwap
In-Reply-To: <A13C903F-9B3B-4A20-A0EE-696CA8E42C2F@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Here in the Northeast, the bolts are usually rust welded to the bushing
sleeves so out first step is to cut the sleeves and bolts out. Those sleeves
are hardened so they don't Sawzall out easily.
Did you also do the radius rod mounts? I guaranty they are also shot.
I don't know how those urethane bushings set up but for the stock mounts, it
is important for the van to be placed down on the ground before tightening
those bolts. Otherwise the mounts will get twisted and move in the arms or
rip off the sleeve requiring doing the job again.
If changing any on the hardware note this is fine thread, P.C. 10.9 stuff.
These bolts coming loose will allow the sleeves to wear through those
mounting tabs requiring welding repair.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
OlRivrRat
Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2013 8:12 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: LowerControlArmBushingSwap
ToWhomItMay~~
I'm quite often amused @ the things that Frighten me & those that
don't ~ I have no problem with the thought tearing an engine apart, have
done many, although I doubt that I will ever feel comfortable
SplittingTheBlock of an H2OBoxer or Subi (I have replaced a Piston in an
EJ25 & it was fairly easy) ~ BUT ~ The thought of putting new
LowerControlArmBushings in a Vanagon had me finding all sorts of excuses to
do something else (Those BigA**edSprings had me Scared) ~ Even with Burley
telling me & all that I had read from YouGuysThatKnow I still had myself
convinced that for me something was going to go badly & I was GoingToGetBit
~ It was WayBack in Jun2010 I bought the UrethaneBushings from Burley & a
FewDaysAgo I finely mustered up the nerve to DoTheJob ~ It was PrettyMuch a
PieceOfCake ~
Ran the VDubaru up on CarRamps
Jacked a ControlArm up with a FloorJack & put a JackStand under the
JackingPoint then lowered the FloorJack
Pulled the BigBolt & MuchToMySurprise ~~ NothingMoved ~ (I know I know ~ You
guys Said ~~ )
Pried the ControlArm "Fist" down & put a block of 2x4 in to keep it down
Sawed the FlaredEnd off the Front end of the old bushing with a SawzAll
&Then ~ with my SuperSophisticated VeryExpensive
VanagonLowerControlArmBushingPuller I extracted the OldBushing
Link to Pics of Tool
https://picasaweb.google.com/109991183317103413704/VanagonLowerControlArmBus
hingPuller
The whole job ~ BothSides ~ including the time it took to InventTheTool took
about 3hrs ~ Having a GearWrench helps a Bunch on making QuickWork of
cranking that nut on the Tool ~
The HardestPart was getting the holes lined back up so as to get the BigBolt
back in.
Hope this might help someone else that feels the need to do this ~
ORR ~ DeanB