I thought you had me stumped there, but I found some info online pretty
quickly.  Go to: http://www.plumbingsupply.com/testing.html , scroll down
about 2/3 of the way, and look for "Cleanout Caps, with Stainless Steel
Bands".  I don't know anything about the company whose website this is, they
just happened to have a picture of the thing.

Print the picture, go to Homies and tell 'em you want one of THESE!

Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: "TC" <trclark@shaw.ca>
To: "Gary Stearns" <gstearns@optonline.net>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 8:58 PM
Subject: Re: front suspension rebuilding (squeak squeak)

>
>> I got sick of the squeaking years ago and decided I was going to try to
>> figure out why these upper bushings had such a short life.  What I found
> was
>> that no matter who manufactured the parts, the seal on the outside (where
>> the plastic meets the outer metal shell) always failed.  I cut open a few
> of
>> my failed bushings and always found rust damage and washed-out lubricant.
>> When walking through the plumbing dept. at Home Depot, I had an idea.
> Each
>> of my upper control arm bushings is now enclosed in a black rubber (or
>> vinyl) pipe cap that I think are used to close up sewer pipes no longer
>> being used.   I found one diameter that was perfect to fit snugly around
> the
>> outside of the bushing.
> dont suppose you have part# or pics
> I cant quite picture what you found
>