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Subject:Re: Upgrading an '85 Westy to '86 Spec?
From:Michael Knight
Date:Fri, 28 Jan 2005 11:04:50 -0600

>From: No Name Available

>In a message dated 1/27/2005 9:04:10 AM Pacific Standard Time,
>drillock@earthlink.net writes:
>Yes, you can move over just the spindle arms and brakes. The upper and
>lower ball joints hold the spindle arm to the upper and lower control
>arms. You can use the newer spindle arm with the older control arms.  If
>your 85 is an early one it will have stamped metal lower arms and I
>would think about changing those. If you have the later 85 it already
>has the same control arms as the 86.  Unless you have a lot of rust down
>there it is not to big a deal to swap the lower arm assemblies complete.

>Yes, I must have the newer 85,
>because it has the cast lower control arm.
>To be honest, when I replaced all of the ball joints and bushing's,
>I thought the older style was the cast control arm.
>And that they must have went to the lighter weight lower control arm,
>As an update and to save money.
>The way all cars have lightened up over the years.
>But, I suppose there are many good reasons for doing this as well.
>Man, what a difference there is in the ride of the Van,
>With all new suspension. I even replaced the springs. (thanks Steve)

What is the cutoff point for the later '85? I believe mine is Dec/84. Wouls
this be a later 85 or early 85?

Michael Knight
'77 Westy Deluxe, "el Verde"
'85 Vanagon GL, nameless