You can never re-assemble front-ends back to spec with new parts. Some of
the previous alignment adjustments were made to for manufacturers tolerances
and some for wear & you are resetting both when you install new parts.

You have to do a complete front-end alignment because all three will be off.

The only exception is with tie rods since they affect toe-in only.

Thanks,
Tom Hargrave
www.kegkits.com
http://www.kegkits.com/JABF/
256-656-1924
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
neil N
Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 1:17 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Trying To Understand Tie rod Adjustments

On Sun, Apr 12, 2009 at 10:28 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
> Allan's advice is right on! �Don't expect someone who's worked on
mainstream
> vehicles only to be even close when you give em a Vanagon to align. �You
> should only use a shop with a tech who's versed in Vanagons. �You might be
> wise to stay right there with the Bently in hand and make sure they do it
> properly, too. �I've seen em just 'blow-off' an accepted proceedure just
to
> get on to the next job..and that means you just wasted time and money on a
> bad job. �A lot of the techs you'll get at shops are not the best thinkers
> and yet they all will tell you they've been at it for years and know
exactly
> what they are doing...(even if they have never worked on a Vanagon)..Yah
> think aligning a Dodge 3/4 ton 4x4 is exactly like a VW?...
> �Don Hanson
>

I agree. I hope to get time with either of two Vanagon aware shops close by.

As an experiment, I'll adjust "new" radius arm nut (less than 2 turns)
to original position as it came off the '85 parts Vanagon. (indicated
by rust on threads)

I suspect that transferring position of damaged arm nut to nut on
"new" arm, then installing this into the corrected (repaired) hole, is
part of the problem.

Neil.

-- 
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engine
s

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