I'm a bit confused now: in some other article I read that the most
probable cause for "sweaky" suspension is worn upper ball joint. With a
description how to remove them similar to the one Shawn wrote.
So what should you replace, the bushing or the ball joint?
When changing the bushings, after install you have to secure the
bushings with spot welds to prevent them from turning (according to the
Bentley). I don't have welding equipment, so how bad is it when you
don't do this?

Jaap
'87 diesel

Shawn Wright wrote:

> On 9 Feb 2005 at 9:42, The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM> wrote:
>
>
>
>>> But...my front and rear coil springs are sweaky.
>>>    -What causes this?
>>>
>>
>> Most commonly a front suspension squeak is caused by worn upper
>> control arm
>> bushings:
>>
>> http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=251407077
>>
>
>
> Yup. Can be confirmed by spraying WD-40 or similar into the bushings
> and driving.
> Don't expect it to last very long, but it can confirm the source of
> the noise. I sprayed a
> liquid moly grease in mine for about a year every month of so before I
> finally replaced
> them. This was 5-6 years ago, and I only did one side. The other side
> is still fine. the
> job can be done without press, but it requires a vise and lots of
> banging with a
> hammer. You will deform the old one getting it out, but this can then
> be used to install
> the new ones without damaging them.
>
> While you're in there - did you install the front upper shock rubber
> bushings that
> came with the KYBs? If so, and you have knocking in the front end,
> this is the cause.
> I did this, and was told about the problem. I had kept the old
> bushings (rubber
> donuts), so I reinstalled them, and knocking is gone.
>
> --
> Shawn Wright
> I.T. Manager
> Shawnigan Lake School
>
>
>