Oops, please disregard my comment about the eccentric
washer.  It is not on the ball joint on the Vanagon!  I was
thinking about the A-arm bushings replacement job...

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List
[mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Bill Knight
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 8:50 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: New Ball Joints feel like I am driving on ice.

Did you get an alignment done?  That is an essential part of
this job. The upper ball joint eccentric washer controls the
camber setting...

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List
[mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of James Wetzel
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 5:25 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: New Ball Joints feel like I am driving on ice.

Dear List,

Just finished putting on a new set of ball joints from the
Bus Depot ($50.00
for the pair) on my 84 Westy.  The van now feels like I am
driving on ice.
The front end is very squirrelly.  At speeds over 55 , I can
hardly control
the van.  If I hit a large bump, the whole van feels like I
have lost
steering control for a second.

I am wondering if anyone knows the answer to the following:

Are these ball joints of inferior quality and if so, is
there a brand/vendor
that is better?
Did I install them improperly to cause this?
Did I do some type of damage to the lower joints and/or tie
rods?
What the heck would cause this?
Will it get better over time?

There is one post in the archives that leads me to believe
the ball joints
are just crap and should be replaced with better ones.

Thanks,
Jim W.