Date:         Tue, 13 Apr 2021 17:50:23 -0400
Reply-To:     Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Rear alignment question
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

So there isn’t much for rear alignment and mine is off a bit.  Not very bad but not quite in the “green” for the machine. Normally they would say that is the best they can do but this shop happens to work a lot on older cars.  They also recently had a friend with a nice vanagon with the same issue.  They put in two shims to get the toe correct.  

Now I am probably describing this wrong but they said if I want to bring it back they would be willing to give it a try.  There are four bolts holding the wheel that they would loosen and add shims to the top two.  Last time they did this they got it into the green first try.  This is not something recommended or part of VW Vanagon service.  They are winging it, but had great success recently. 

So any reason why I should not go for it?  Only reason to do it is it reduces uneven tire wear and I suppose having it closer to original spec can’t hurt and only help issues. 

This shop put my van up and down three times and re tested until it was as close to perfect as possible.  They even noticed my spare tire holder was making a little noice when driving and added some rubber pieces to quiet it down. 
I’m the one that installed that and apparently the bolts I used should have been a bigger diameter.

Man they are good folks. 

So, I’d love some list wisdom on the rear shim option for correction of toe with the alignment.

Eric Caron 
85 GL Auto