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Subject:sick of replacing Control Arm Bushings every year
From:pickle vanagon
Date:Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:48:05 -0400

My drivers side upper control arm bushings are screaming like crazy.  These
are new Meyle bushings, installed a little over a year ago.  The Meyle
bushings I had installed on the passenger side at the same time went bad
almost right away.   I replaced those last summer with Febi bushings which
have held up so far (fingers crossed).

I am careful when installing them (and know not to tighten them all the way
before lowering the van for example) and think a lot of the parts are just
bad.  I have seen other people post similar frustrating experiences with
these bushings (including some who had problems with the Febi bushings).

Does anyone know where to get a decent bushing?  I've had bushings from
different list vendors that all went bad (they were all Meyle bushings, the
Febi bushings I had just picked up from a Flaps in a hurry).  Is there a
chance I'll get better quality if I cough up the money to get them from the
dealer?  (Presumably then there would at least be a warranty I could collect
on without too much hassle.)

The worst part about changing these so often is that I can't even do it all
myself.  Once I remove the control arm, I have to take it somewhere and pay
someone to press the new bushings in.

Sorry for the griping!  I just can't believe how problematic these bushings
seem to be!

-Wes
'83 1.9l manual westy ("pickle")