The OEM bushings have a white powdery (mold release) coating on them. I have
had the shiny black ones split on me. The only way for the good stuff to
remain available is for someone to buy it. 

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
neil n
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 10:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Radius Arm (strut) Steel Sleeve Measurement

Heh.

Yup. I have a lathe Alistair, but my ML7 is still In pieces.    ;)

Saw your page. Thanks!

I will cut and shape to the correct length. I have an "ok" spare sleeve in
hand and there's measurements on thesamba.com

@ Dennis: Yes had seen that vendors carry them. The fact that I have yet to
refinish and assemble my ML7 not withstanding, I would like to get the
radius rod job done asap. OTOH, I really should open a mail box in Blaine WA
and get in the habit of ordering online when need be.

The rubber bushings I purchased from VM Autohaus in Burnaby might be OEM.
They were ~ $45 a pair have "Germany" and the Audi  " ���� "
mark on them.  Then again, those marks may mean bupkuss.

@ Ralph. For sure. I think SS is the way to go!  Were the SS sleeves you got
*exactly* the same ID as the original sleeves?

Neil.

On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 7:01 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
> Neil,
>
> I thought you had a lathe :)
>
> You can make your ones  to whatever close fit you want.
>
> http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/vanagon-steering-arm-boot-and-r
> adius-arm-sleeve/
>
> alistair
>
>
> On 2012-08-29, at 5:25 PM, neil n wrote:
>
>> Hi all.
>>
>> I'll be replacing the radius arm bushings. My bet is that the steel 
>> sleeves are at least pretty rusty. Those sleeves are NLA from VW.
>>
>> I sourced some  DOM ROUND TUBE 0.750 X 0.120  (inch)  steel pipe locally
from:
>>
>> http://www.metalsupermarkets.com/catalog/STEEL-COLD_ROLLED/TUBE_ROUND
>> /DOM
>>
>> This pipe fits in the new rubber bushing, but the ID is *slightly* 
>> larger by 0.26 mm
>>
>> Likely I'm being totally "Type A" about this, but is that 0.26mm 
>> anything to be concerned about? Like will that play cause wear, 
>> performance, alignment issues?
>>
>> Thanks much,
>>
>> Neil.
>>
>> --
>> Neil n
>>
>> 65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly  http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp
>>
>> '88 Slate Blue Westy to be named.
>>
>> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>>
>> Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:
>>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas
>> -engines
>

--
Neil n

65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly  http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp

'88 Slate Blue Westy to be named.

'81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:

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