RE: upper control armNew ball joints, shocks and upper control arm bushings failed to fix my squeek last spring.  Needless to say, I'm interested in your progress.  Maybe the comment on the sagging springs is right on the money?

Jim
91 Syncro AW
Alamogordo NM
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: BRENT CHRISTENSEN 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2000 12:39 PM
  Subject: Re: upper control arm

  This squeaking has been driving me nuts for a year now too.  I just received all the goodies from Bus Depot necessary to replace all the front end bushings, ball joints, etc.

  My plan is to replace both upper and lower bushings, ball joints, and do a complete brake job, including new rotors, caliper rebuild, pads, and wheel bearings.

  Cost for all the parts (Syncro): ~$500.00 

  Let me know if you want part numbers 

  Brent Christensen 
  Manager Strategic Programs 
  InfoGenesis 
  www.infogenesis.com 
  (805) 681-8600 xt. 414 

  -----Original Message----- 
  From: Karl M [mailto:thewestyman@MINDSPRING.COM] 
  Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2000 11:08 AM 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Subject: Re: upper control arm 

  Don't overlook the balljoint itself as the source of the squeak, especially 
  if the boot is, or has been, torn/cracked. I've seen quite a few balljoints 
  squeak/creak in my 20 years of Vw repair. The best way to rid the squeak for 
  good, is to replace the balljoint AND the bushings at the same time (unless 
  of course the bushings were done recently and correctly). Still less than 
  the junkyard arm at $75 or so. 

  Karl von M�llendorf 
  WestyVentures 
  1987 Syncro Westfalia 1.9 TD 'Otto' 
  1988 Audi 80 Quattro 'Car' 

  ----- Original Message ----- 

  > Ken, 
  > 
  > Your upper control arm bushings are causing the squeak, without a 
  > doubt.  They look fine, work fine, and are fine, except for the squeak. 
  > What happens is that the bond between the rubber bushing and its inner 
  > and outer metal sleeves breaks over time and that is the squeak you 
  > hear, rubber rubbing on metal.  The metal outer and inner sleeves are 
  > held in place by a spot weld the UC arm and the through bolt 
  > respectively, and the rubber is supposed to flex and absorb shock and 
  > noise.  It still does this task, but noisily as the bond breaks and 
  > slippage also occurs. 
  > 
  > Replace your bushings and the squeak will be gone!  (Do a front end 
  > alignment afterward too.) 
  > 
  > Ken Hunter wrote: 
  > > 
  > > I have the same problem and my bushings check out OK per Bentley. My 
  upper 
  > > boots were torn  but the joints were good so I found some boots that 
  would 
  > > fit.. they failed within 2 months. A couple of months ago there was a 
  thread 
  > > on this topic. 
  > > For a Synchro there is a clearance shown in Bentley determined by the 
  > > thickness of the eccentric adjuster washers. I was told that these 
  different 
  > > thickness washers applied to the non-Synchro's also (although not shown 
  to be 
  > > so in Bentley). When I had the upper arms off I greased everything and 
  > > torqued them back to 50ftlbs.with the car on the ground. Still squeaked, 
  > > still looking for a solution. 

    

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