These bushings are simply a bad design. I have found the Meyle are usually
the smoothest and quietest. The Febi tends to bind and squeak. On the
stamped metal control arms, (non Syncro) a hammer and flat plate will knock
them out and push the new ones in. The spot weld should be done with a MIG
and just a small spot will do.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
pickle vanagon
Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 6:48 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: sick of replacing Control Arm Bushings every year

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")