Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2017 20:29:10 +0000
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: What can go wrong..... (followup and short trip report)
Steering Feel!
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A vehicles "desire" to travel straight and steer on center is primarily determined by the front end geometry. The steering axis inclination angle or as adjusted the caster. The caster angle is adjusted by the lower radius rods. The lower control arm and radius rod mounts position the lower ball joints and have to hold the correct position of all the different loads that occur. If you don't remember when the radius rod mounts were last done they most likely need to be and if the lower control arm mounts are twisted or pulled they need to go also. Polyurethane mounts from T3Technique are the way to go here. Be prepared as you may find you need a weld repair. For alignment, the procedure is setting up caster, than camber, then toe. If a lot of camber adjustment was done check caster again. The closer you get the caster to 8 degrees the straighter the van will want to travel but there will be more turning resistance and some outer tire wear. Syncros get set closer to 4 degrees. Running 215/60-16 tires is a great size. Preferably they are XL or reinforced with a load index of 99. If not what is the max inflation pressure? If 44 psi I would go with 42-44 rear and 36-38 front. If 51 psi than try 48 rear and 38-40 front.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Doug Toomey
Sent: Tuesday, August 1, 2017 8:24 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: What can go wrong..... (followup and short trip report)
OK, a subjective question. 65 cruising seems no problem power wise for the WBX I have (2.1). The issue is rather the frequency of steering corrections, which has me wondering whether or not my steering system is "loose". In some 30 years, I've only driven my van, so don't really have a comparison.
Any suggestions on how to evaluate the quality and tightness of the steering?
For me, going 60 is relatively peaceful compared to 65+.
> On Jul 31, 2017, at 10:14 PM, OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>
> I always try drive My 90Westy about 5% North of the SpeedLimit,
> even back when
>
> it was being pushed around by Its Orig' H2OBoxr > If Hills & Winds
> Allowed ~ Even with
>
> a Canoe on the roof It Never seemed to mind ~ I did always try to make
> sure it was able
>
> to Inhale & Exhale Well via an AmsOil Air Filter, S&S Exhaust, MagnaFlow Performance Cat'
>
> & a "Way To Loud" Twister Muffler ~
>
> ORR ~ DeanB
>
>
>> On 31 Jul , 2017, at 9:00 PM, Rob wrote:
>>
>> My 84 westy had a Subie 2.2 in it, I drove 65 generally. The subie
>> was good cause I could merge like it was a real car, even up hill!
>> In my mind it's a vw bus & god didn't intend for them to 90 mph....
>> it could tho :-)
>>
>> Rob
>> vwrobb@gmail.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jul 31, 2017 6:27 PM, "Steven Johnson" <sjohnso2000@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I've driven the camper across the country several time and typically
>> driven an average
>> 65 mph. But since the miles are so high on it now, I have to drive a
>> bit slower.
>>
>> I'm sure the folks with Subaru or TDI engine lean to higher MPH... :)
>>
>> Steven
>> 91 Westy
>>
>> On Mon, Jul 31, 2017 at 6:18 PM, David McNeely
>> <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I thought EVERYONE drove their VW campers at 60 mph on the highway
>>> (or slower, depending on conditions). I know I never drive it
>>> faster than
>> that.
>>>
>
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