You don't need to get an alignment when you do the steering rack, if you
keep track of where the treads are on the tie rods.

   I did those purple urethane ones (steering rack only) in my van a few
years ago and it really did help...I live in the Columbia River Gorge,
where frequent and random 50mph gusts from all directions is the Rule, not
the exception.  While it didn't make windy day driving an easy thing...it
helped a lot..Heck, I see fully loaded semi tractor trailer rigs being
blown around on I-84...

On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 5:18 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
wrote:

> So, at what point in replacing bushings do you take it in for an alignment?
> All of them?  30 year old rubber should be all shot.
>
> Tires are expensive!
>
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Alistair Bell
> Sent: Friday, September 12, 2014 12:18 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Front suspension bushing replacement
>
> The stock bushings have flats on them, to be oriented so they are vertical"
> that would seem to allow more lateral movement. I guess VW wanted to reduce
> steering feedback?
>
> The coupling, yeah, one more thing to replace :)
>
> Alistair
>
>
>
> On Sep 12, 2014, at 12:13 PM, Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> ..... My rack moved, but not as much as
> >> yours. Even so, the new bushings were an upgrade.
> >
> > At the time, I wondered if it was a quality of rubber issue (OEM vs ?
> make).
> >
> > And good catch on that coupling disc. I would suggest that the cracks
> > may not easily be seen with the part still installed:
> >
> > https://sites.google.com/site/tubaneil2/steeringcouplingdiscfrom%2781
> >
> >
> > --
> > Neil n
> >
> > Blog: tubaneil.blogspot.ca
> >
> > '88 Westy http://tinyurl.com/c8rlw6p
> >
> > '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
> >
> > Vanagon VAG *Gas* inline-VR Engine Swap Group:
> >
> > http://tinyurl.com/d7gd5ej
>