I would like to know if the part numbers and parts apply to to an 87 year
powersteering
van. I would love to know what other bushings and parts are available for
this area of
the van. As part are quickly becoming NLA I want to make I have spares "in
stock".
Thinking back the main reason I bought my first Vanagon was because I got
sick of
the vague steering of my 78 Westy. I replaced and upgraded everything on
that 78 to
try make it drive better.  I got tired of white knuckling it all the time.

B

On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 8:30 AM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:

> Just remember that you don't have to take the assembly all the way out
> of the car, you just drop the bushing plate down past the two rods so
> you can pull the bushings out with pliers. The plate with the bushings
> is on the bottom, and you're dropping the two rods out of it to get to
> the bushings. When you pull the plate back up on the rods and bolt the
> column to the dash, be sure to pull the rods as far as you can, i.e.,
> mount the column as high on the dash as you can. This will ensure that
> you're not just using the rubber of the bushings to secure the
> coupling, but you have a strong mechanical connection. This is all
> much easier to comprehend if you're looking at it, not reading about
> it.
>
> The steering wheel only goes back on one way, assuming your wheels are
> straight and the VW emblem is up so you don't get it upside down if
> that's even possible. Nothing will need readjusting.
>
> Jim
>
> On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 1:41 AM, David Kao<dtkao0205@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Jim:
> >
> > You are right on the money. I had long discovered these worn
> > bushings but was afraid that they might be difficult to replace
> > by myself and it might need a wheel alignment afterwards. So
> > I have not had the gut to replace mine. I believe these worn
> > bushings are also responsible for slopy steering when driving
> > against head wind. Thanks a lot for the tip. I guess I will
> > order those bushings to replace mine soon.
> >
> > David
> >
> > --- On Thu, 9/3/09, Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> >
> >> From: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
> >> Subject: To those concerned with steering wheel sloppiness
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Date: Thursday, September 3, 2009, 6:27 PM
> >> I have over the years been all
> >> through my 83 vanagon steering (this
> >> said because I don't remember if later model vanagons have
> >> the same
> >> setup, I think they do) It has been wonderfully correct for
> >> some time
> >> but there was always an annoying bump where the wheels
> >> seemed free to
> >> roam over a rocky road while the steering wheel sat firmly
> >> in my
> >> hands, issuing complaint from somewhere below. On straight
> >> roads, the
> >> car floated imperceptibly, though was easily corrected by
> >> guiding the
> >> wheel.
> >>
> >> The problem was fixed in fifteen minutes with the
> >> replacement of the
> >> two rubber bushings that fit into the half of the steering
> >> column that
> >> comes up from the floor. You drop the upper shaft (no need
> >> to remove
> >> the wheel) and pull out the old bushing with pliers, then
> >> soap up the
> >> new bushings and press them in with your fingers.
> >>
> >> No more bumping sounds, no more slop.
> >>
> >> Jim
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>