As far as I know, the 86 steering knuckle will go right on the solid
lower control arm used in later 85s. The 86 brake parts all attach to
the 86 steering knuckle. The same upper and lower control arms were used
from 1985 chassis #F019683 all the way to 1991. Since these are what the
steering knuckles attach to the knuckles should interchange.

I have put the later 85 solid lower control arm suspension in it's
entirety into 82 Vanagons. Soon I will be doing the same with 86 and
newer front suspensions and brakes as the newer parts are becoming more
common in dismantling yards.

With a few exceptions such as springs, I don't advocate interchanging
front suspension parts between different years. I prefer to swap the
entire assembly as a unit. Various changes were made in the middle of
model years so I prefer to use parts meant to work together. However,
since we now have access to the fine VW parts CD data it is easier than
before to see what changed when and how. I suspect that the 86 parts
listed in the post below could be fit to any earlier vanagon if the 86
wheel bearings were used. I have not done so to be certain.

Mark

Chris S wrote:
>
> > Better stopping power with the 86 and newer front brakes. Larger caliper
> > and pads, floating type mounting.
> >
> > front brake parts that were changed from 85:
> > 1. caliper
> > 2. rotors
> > 3. brake hoses
> > 4. steering knuckle
> >
> > Mark
>
> The '86 and-up parts can be used to upgrade '85, correct?
>
> Chris.