Ball joints may cause play (drifting on the highway, especially at with initial steering
input) and maybe clunking if bad enough, but I can't imagine them squeaking.
Sounds like someone just got the wrong name, but of course, check the ball joints
while you're there.
Believe me - when you see how much force is needed to re-install the upper C-A
bushings, you'll agree that no spot weld is going to make a difference!!

On 9 Feb 2005 at 21:04, Jaap Nauta <bus.mail@IAE.NL> wrote:

> 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
> >
> >
> >
>

--
Shawn Wright
I.T. Manager
Shawnigan Lake School