I'll keep you posted. I'm going to have a look at it after supper.....

On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 5:28 PM, Shawn Wright <vwdiesels@gmail.com> wrote:

> Oh great. I have all 4 off the ground, so I guess that means I should leave
> it alone!
>
>
> On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 3:47 PM, Bill MacLachlan <billmacla@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> well interesting.......I just took the rod off with the van on the ground.
>> All four wheels.  On the ground.  Came apart relatively easily.  Just a
>> few
>> rust loosening hammer bangs after the nuts were off. Wouldn't have started
>> if I couldn't've turned the nuts.
>>
>> Just goes to show what a little ignorance will do.
>>
>> Maybe being 4 wheels on the ground'll make it hard to get the rod back on.
>> I'll clean out the holes, grease it up and I will not move the wheel until
>> it's all back together.
>>
>>
>> keeping my fingers crossed .... :)
>>
>> Bill M
>>
>> On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 3:01 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
>> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>>
>> > One thing to consider on those metal tubes that go through  the strut
>> rod
>> > bushings is that they may be hardened metal, not just 'any' ole metal
>> tube.
>> > In my case I just found not trashed good used ones.  They can wear badly
>> > enough to start wearing out the strut rod shaft too.
>> > Fortunately I had a good used one of those too.
>> >
>> > about 'do it all at once'
>> > please don't anyone read past here unless you want to -
>> >
>> > there are two sides to that 'do it all at once' thing...or more sides
>> than
>> > only two.
>> >
>> > On the one hand ...if you do it all at once you will gain more for the
>> time
>> > invested, namely only have to work on it only once. Granted, more
>> efficient
>> > that way ..
>> > and is why most of my projects 'get big' since if I am going to touch
>> this
>> > part, then I should address that thing right next to it, and if I'm
>> going
>> > to
>> > do that one ..then I should to this one too ....etc. etc.  And since
>> it's
>> > got surface rust right there....well, got to treat that too.
>> >
>> > I'm saying that since projects grow so much in size anyway, I try to
>> keep
>> > them more finite, and will work on just one part of something here,and
>> some
>> > more there, lest they turn into just monster projects that take forever
>> to
>> > get done.
>> >
>> > and cost ...doing it 'all at once' involves more outlay of cash at once.
>> (
>> > or you can gradually accumulate the parts over time in advance )
>> >
>> > And ....'replacing everything at once' .......exposes you to the danger
>> of
>> > new parts these days may not be as well made and durable as the original
>> > ones. .
>> >
>> > another 'negative factor' about Doing it All at Once is .........often
>> the
>> > project gets put off for a long, long time and things are worse when
>> > someone
>> > finally gets in there, as opposed to if someone did part of it here and
>> > there is smaller steps.
>> >
>> > Personally, I replace worn parts, and keep good parts in service.
>> > But then it's fun and rewarding for me to work on it, and I don't mind
>> if I
>> > do part of it now, and part of it in 6 months.
>> >
>> > there is the time factor too relative to badly rusted or stuck things
>> > ........if things are stuck, or rusted, corroded etc...the sooner you
>> find
>> > out about it, the better off you are.
>> > So I would vote for some careful inspection, and repair what is shot,
>> and
>> > keep the rest in service.
>> > I find so many things badly stuck and rusted together, that I can't help
>> > but
>> > think that the disassembly and reassembly is,  *in itself*  good for the
>> > van -you know things are not terminally stuck together.  In other words,
>> > working on the van is good for it, in general.
>> >
>> > If we are going to operate these wonderful vans at 25+ years of age ...
>> > it's good to keep all of it well-treated against rust and corrosion, and
>> > making sure things are not stuck together horribly, because if they
>>  are,
>> > it
>> > only gets worse with time.  And applying 'just the right amount of
>> energy'
>> > to 'just the right place at the right time'....
>> > I find that fun, rewarding, and efficient. And not too costly either.
>> >
>> > maybe the Vanagon Gods smile upon your Van ..and all the parts contained
>> > within.
>> > Sure would like to have a 'drive through' WD-40 Trough .......about 20
>> feet
>> > long and 18 inches deep.  These vans would love that !
>> >
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Shawn Wright" <vwdiesels@GMAIL.COM>
>> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> >  Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:18 PM
>> > Subject: Re: front end reassembly: strut bar
>> >
>> >
>> > Neil,
>> >>
>> >> Since you're in BC, where'd you get the parts? Looks like BD and
>> Van-Cafe
>> >> have them, but anyone else? If they can be had locally, I might
>> consider
>> >> diving in and doing mine while I'm doing the shocks. On the other hand,
>> I
>> >> should probably wait until I can replace everything affecting alignment
>> >> all
>> >> at once  I guess...
>> >>
>> >> On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 12:15 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Good to know.
>> >>>
>> >>> In hindsight, one could measure new rubber bushing and strut arm
>> >>> diameters. Measuring length of old part should suffice.
>> >>>
>> >>> Neil.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 10:37 AM, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net>
>> >>> wrote:
>> >>> > I think they are available again somewhere. I made some from
>> stainless
>> >>> pipe
>> >>> > that are not quite the right outer diameter, though they do barely
>> >>> squeeze
>> >>> > into the rubbers.
>> >>> >
>> >>> > Mark
>> >>> >
>> >>> > neil n wrote:
>> >>> >>
>> >>> >> On Tue, Apr 20, 2010 at 9:16 AM, neil n<musomuso@gmail.com>
>>  wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> >> Beware that the metal sleeves are likely NLA.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> --
>> >>> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>> >>>
>> >>> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Shawn Wright
>> >>
>> >
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Shawn Wright
>
>