There used to be a Auto Repair Guy just a block from Me that was one those

Rare Expert Types that would have no problem talking you out of something that

you suspected you needed but really didn't ~ I asked Him about aligning My Van

several years ago & He suggested I go to the local Firestone Store a couple miles

away as they were Quite Expert @ it & He wasn't wrong ~ Even though they do it

"FlatRate" I have witnessed them taking a couple of hours on a Vanagon to get it

right & you get a Printout that shows the Before & After numbers when it's done ~

Have had them do a Dozen+ for Me & Friends & always with good results ~ 

        & they will do ReDos Free for a Year ~ Also have LifeTime for $149 ~

                                                        ORR ~ DeanB

On 18 Jul , 2018, at 9:57 AM, Don Hanson wrote:

> You're lucky to find a mechanic that will do a great job.   Many shops have
> competent people, trained to perform the work that earns profit.  Something
> out of normal for them?  takes longer to do properly and cuts into the time
> for more lucrative business...
>   It takes attention to detail to complete a good alignment or suspension
> adjusment.  As said, it's not rocket science, but if, say, the shop guy
> can't quite get at a bolt, he may jack up, then let down the vehicle...
> changing everything, and the whole project needs to start over to be
> valid...
>  Most shops would rather do 5 or 6 Toyota or Mazda jobs than try to figure
> out something rare, like a VW Vanagon...
> . Silly
> 
> On Wed, Jul 18, 2018, 8:36 AM Jim. Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> Afteer I replaced all the bushings, joints and springs in 2012, the first
>> thing I did was take my van to Pep Boys for an alignment. The looked at it
>> and said "we don't really know much about those. But there is a guy in the
>> other store who is an expert." So I made an appointment with him. I had to
>> wait a week as he didn't work every day. I have not been sorry, I am
>> showing no unevenness and have not had a single issue with those R08 tires.
>> In fact I have 53,000 on them now. The trick is to find someone who
>> understands Vanagons and how the adjustments work. If you can't find
>> someone in your area to do it, do what Don suggests and learn to do it
>> yourself. It ain't rocket science.
>> 
>> Jim
>> 
>> On Wed, Jul 18, 2018 at 10:29 AM David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> I run 195R14D, but the placard and owner's manual give the 43/53 psi
>>> specification for 185R14, also.  mcneely
>>> 
>>> On Wed, Jul 18, 2018 at 8:12 AM, ddbjorkman@verizon.net <
>>> ddbjorkman@verizon.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> What size tires are you running?  The placard on my '87 tells a
>> different
>>>> story for my 185/14's.
>>>> 
>>>> Dave B.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
>>>> To: vanagon <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>>> Sent: Tue, Jul 17, 2018 1:45 am
>>>> Subject: Re: tire pressures and alignments
>>>> 
>>>> Why not go with the door placard inflation pressures? On my 1991
>>>> Volkswagen Vanagon GL Campmobile that is 43 psi front, 53 psi rear.
>>>> Perhaps increase per load, but you would need the proper formula and
>> axle
>>>> weights to do it right. I always figure the VW engineers knew better
>> than
>>>> me. So I go by their recommendations. I have found that most shops seem
>>>> not to have a clue, and when I tell them the proper inflation, they act
>>>> like I'm crazy. But, I tell them to check the specifications and they
>>>> either get defensive, or apologize for their mistake, depending mostly
>> on
>>>> their age and sensibilities.
>>>> 
>>>> mcneely
>>>> 
>>>> On Mon, Jul 16, 2018 at 3:28 PM, Gabriel Hourtouat <
>> ghourtouat@gmail.com
>>>> 
>>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Should wheel alignments be done with an unladen van?
>>>>> 
>>>>> (Or should I load it up with some concrete blocks, etc, to simulate
>> the
>>>>> kind of load that the van will carry on road trips?)
>>>>> 
>>>>> Any special considerations for an alignment?
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> New tires: Continental Vanco Four Season 185R14C rated D (load range
>>> 102
>>>> /
>>>>> 100 Q) are rated for 1874 kg at 65psi.
>>>>> 
>>>>> What pressure would you run them?
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> (I have gone to: 45 front, 49 rear, psi.)
>>>>> (The shop inflated them to: 34, 36, 40 and 42. Or, random, in other
>>>>> words.)
>>>>> 
>>>>> Any advice welcome.
>>>>> 
>>>>> cheers,
>>>>> gab
>>>>> 86 Westy 2.1 WBX
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>> 
>>