>The Super Beetles used U-joints in the steering column and they were
>failure-prone, too.

The Supers had no bushings or bearings between the "X" and the end cages
apparently. They wore quit a bit. Mine made alot of noise until I removed
the gas tank for inspection. Let's just say it was so bad I would never had
been driving that car like that!

The U-joints were used because the steering wheel was not in line with the
steering rack input. In a bad collision it would have been shoved back but
would not have pushed the steering shaft back at the driver. I doubt this
would be the case in a VW van.

Another two reasons to consider: probably cheaper to use the rubber
doughnut and the rubber probably isolated noise or vibration from the
steering.

I've known of one to fail on a 60's vintage Corvette. My friend rolled it
and walked away - was normal speeds in normal traffic. Lap belt saved his
bacon. Now he has a vintage convertible years and years later but won't
drive it more than a couple miles at a time. Still scared I suppose.

If you choose to use a U-joint check the hot rod mags - they sell some nice
high quality U-joints. Another source would be industrial part suppliers.

DON'T use a socket wrench u-joint. When I was about 12 or 13 years old I
was at a hot rod show when a U-joint failed on a fellow's car. Those were
the days when more people were building cars from junkyard gems and less
from the catalogs like today (alot of innovation back then and some scary
stuff too). A fellow had just exited the interstate and was backing into
his show parking space when the joint failed and he lost his steering. He
turned off the engine and climbed out to examine the problem with a buddy.
He remarked quite calmly he couldn't understand why because it was a
Craftsman but at least it would be replaced under warranty!!!! Apparently
they went and got another after knocking the roll pin back in on the one he
had. I knew even as a kid I had seen a couple roll pins work their way out
under normal use...

SCARY!!!

Chris M. <"Busbodger" of "TEAM SLOWPOKE">
Cookeville, Tennessee

ICQ# 5944649
scm9985@tntech.edu

'78 VW Westfalia (67 HP -> that is...67 Hamster Power)
'65 Beetle - Type IV powered
'99 CR-V AWD station wagon
'81 CB900 Custom moto-chickle
2.5 Corvair engines for my Trans-vair Conversion