Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2021 18:07:53 -0400
Reply-To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Rear alignment question
In-Reply-To: <CY4PR0801MB3731FAC85971DBC8F3CF2173A04F9@CY4PR0801MB3731.namprd08.prod.outlook.com>
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They may then have actually adjusted the rear to some degree. They said One bolt was seased and they did free that up. I think even with the adjusting they could not quite get it where the machine said it should be. Yet it was so close they left it up to me to decide if I wanted to try the shims.
I’ll have to stop by the shop with the van and have them show me.
Unfortunately as I don’t drive the van is dropped off by Heidi in the morning and they drive it to her work. When done So I only get phone info.
I’ll be happy if in the end the rear is good and I can do the front boot with some list help.
Eric
> On Apr 13, 2021, at 6:00 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> The rear is fully adjustable for both toe and camber. I don’t know where they could be adding shims. Most likely though the rear bolts are well rusted into the bushing sleeves and things will not budge. If you really want to address this the bushings/bolts will likely need to be cut out, yes with a torch. Of course then you can replace with one of the urethane options. Until such time that a bushing fails, if ever I would leave it alone. If I thought it was needed or value added you know I would have suggested it while it was with me.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of Eric Caron
> Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 5:50 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Rear alignment question
>
> 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
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