Hi Dennis.

As always useful info.

Thanks for info re: air cooled vans. I doubt I have original parts on
mine, (350K ++ km's) but ya never know. I'll have a look at upper
control arm bolts.

I will inspect the bushings (squeeks are getting worse) but first I
have to paw through and sort all the "new" Westy/Vanagon parts I just
got !

Neil.

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.

http://web.mac.com/tubaneil

On 5/22/07, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Squeaky upper control arm bushing are a common problem. Mostly it has to do
> with the design and/or quality of the bushings. If there is no play or
> knocking, it is OK to keep using them. Sometimes, they will get so stiff as
> to affect the ride. The test! Remove the bolts holding the arm to the top
> ball joint. Move the arm up and down. It should move with some resistance,
> smoothly and silently. If you need a wrench or hammer to move them, they
> need replacing.
>
> For replacements, there are 3 or different brands or styles out there. So
> far, Meyle has shown to work the best. I am having a brain freeze but the
> red box ones are often to stiff and creak right out of the box. There is
> also an unbranded one that is commonly supplied. This are noted by the poor
> stamping quality where the corners almost have a rounded appearance. They
> sometime distort going into Syncro arms. These are garbage. Even if they
> work after installation, they will shortly disintegrate and start knocking.
>
> When re-installing the top bolts, use new ones and loc-tite. Back in the air
> cooled days, there was a recall for loose upper control arm bolts. These
> coming loose can be a real problem. Especially on Syncros, check the fit of
> the bushings going into the mounts. Those eccentric washers are available in
> different thicknesses. You don't want the cross bolt to preload them.
>
> Dennis
>
> >From: Leslie H Schwartz <lhs_emf@PACBELL.NET>
> >Reply-To: Leslie H Schwartz <lhs_emf@PACBELL.NET>
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject: Re: 1985 Vanagon - body squeaky noises
> >Date: Sat, 19 May 2007 10:16:23 -0700
> >
> >Does this mean they should be replaced or lubricated, or just should be
> >checked at the next service, or is this normal? Thanks!
> >
> >----- Original Message ----
> >From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2007 11:46:08 AM
> >Subject: Re: 1985 Vanagon - body squeaky noises
> >
> >Upper control arm bushings!
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: Larry Word <larry_word@YAHOO.COM>
> > >Reply-To: Larry Word <larry_word@YAHOO.COM>
> > >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > >Subject: 1985 Vanagon - body squeaky noises
> > >Date: Fri, 18 May 2007 10:25:26 -0700
> > >
> > >What causes this - every bump, squeaky.....
> > >
> > >   My shocks and other front end parts appear OK.  Going fast over a bump
> > >   is OK and I don't hear such squeaky noises so much w/ speed....
> > >
> > >   But go slow and squeaky....Advice?
> > >
> > >   Larry
> > >
> > >
> > >---------------------------------
> > >Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who
> >knows.
> > >Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.
>