Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2021 23:12:46 -0400
Reply-To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Common front end rattles?
In-Reply-To: <AAFE45CB-2B62-42C4-9F09-1A98C941DD58@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Hi Alistair,
Hopefully they will figure it out when I bring it in Monday. I gave them Andrew’s information.
Somehow the bar seems snug but when you undo the sway bar links it becomes evident that it isn’t. So when on a bumpy road I get a rattle I never heard before. I hope Andrew’s shim trick works. They wanted time to come up with a good material . I’ll check back with them.
If anyone has advice I can share with my alignment shop , that would be great. They don’t serve lots of vanagons, and this bar is a specialty item.
Eric Caron
85 GL Auto
> On Jun 14, 2021, at 10:48 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> Eric,
>
> Let us know what’s the cause. What part is loose.
>
> I like the looks of the t3 bar etc. Wondering why it’s sloppy when not stressed on corner , lean , you know
>
> Alistair
>
>
>> On Jun 14, 2021, at 3:20 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Andrew,, and all,
>>
>> Today I took the van to my local alignment shop to have a bad power Steering boot replaced and asked them to inspect the T3 anti sway bar to see if it might be the rattle. I shared your post about taking off the links.
>>
>> They said yes the bar moved so it is likely the rattle and needs shims or something else. They were not prepared to fix it then so asked me to bring it back next Monday to address it. So, I’ll know for sure after that if it was the issue and if it is fixed.
>>
>> But, I appreciate your info and all the great tips from the list.
>>
>> Fingers crossed this takes care of the rattle and prevents any issues that a loose connection could cause over time.
>>
>> Eric Caron
>> 85 GL Auto
>> Hopefully soon with no suspension rattle.
>>
>>
>>
>>> On May 18, 2021, at 2:57 PM, Andrew Martin <ramblinvan@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>>
>>> Eric,
>>>
>>> To find the looseness issue I removed both end links so the anti-sway bar was still attached to the body but not under tension. Once the bar ends were disconnected it was quite obvious the body mount point/bushings were loose. The rattle would occur when driving over very rough road surfaces or shallow pot holes.
>>>
>>> I used a 1/4 inch thick scrap pieces of “Richlite” which is a synthetic counter top material and very durable. I put a thin coating of RTV on both sides of the shims so they won’t be able to move or fall out easily.
>>>
>>> I felt quite foolish for not checking these new and aftermarket parts sooner.
>>>
>>> Andrew
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>
>>>>> On May 18, 2021, at 9:55 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi Andrew,
>>>>
>>>> This is great information. I also have the same Anti sway bar recently installed. I need to go on a few bumpy roads to test some ideas.
>>>>
>>>> Funny thing is after our recent 400 mile trip I didn’t hear the rattle much. Likely because it was all paved roads. I rally hear it the most on dirt roads. I travel over many of them near my home in Vt.
>>>>
>>>> I looked a bit at the bar and it sure looks beautiful and also installed tight.
>>>>
>>>> Did you really only take off and replace two bolts? What did you use for the shim material?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Eric Caron
>>>> 85 GL Auto
>>>> With a very happy suspension over all.
>>>> Rattle may turn out to be just about anything.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On May 15, 2021, at 9:08 PM, Andrew Martin <ramblinvan@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I chased a front end rattle for years on my 87 West Weekender. I’ve owned and maintained many Vanagons since 1989 and this rattle really had me stumped...
>>>>> I’d replaced my stock front anti-sway bar with a new and bigger T3 Techniques anti-sway bar that had nice polyurethane bushings so it couldn’t be that, right? Ha!
>>>>> Sure enough, after all the fiddling around I’d done checking/changing radiator mounts, ball joints, suspension and steering rack bushings etc it turned out that the new bushings that attach the T3 Techniques anti-sway bar to the body would appear to be tight when loaded but were loose when the suspension moved.
>>>>> Christopher at T3 says he has a cure in production but I simply loosened the mounting bolts, slipped a 1/4 shim between the bushing and the body and tightened the mounts back up. Problem solved.
>>>>>
>>>>> Good luck Eric. I enjoy reading your posts very much.
>>>>> Andrew
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>>
>>>>>>> On May 14, 2021, at 7:18 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi folks,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Well, the front end rattle I developed isn’t the radiator after all. I did have a radiator that was moving easily and now it is rock solid. But There is still a rattle on bumpy roads.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I’m going to remove my spare tire carrier just to see if by chance that is it but I suspect something else.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Are there any usual suspects that cause a rattle when wheels are bouncing on a dirt type road. I hear it on other roads but not as much.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It has that something metal rattling with bumpy vibration sound. On smooth roads it is silent.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So, any usual suspects for me to check?
>>>>>> Van was aligned before my trip. They commented they thought my tire carrier was rattling.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It sure seems rock solid to me but I’ll remove and test drive.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It is a van cafe tire holder and my rear bolts I have in there could be a bit larger.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The Sounds like it is either in the center, wheels or front of them area. But sound is always hard to track down.
>>>>>> Van is running, driving, steering, stopping, and handling great.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I just don’t like this new fairly loud rattle.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Eric Caron
>>>>>> 85 GL auto
>>>>>> OCD, who me?
>>>>
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