I once found mine to be the upper A arm cross bushings came loose in the
chassis. The second time lower shock bolts/spacers then were too narrow to
tighten with bolt

On Wed, May 19, 2021, 10:28 AM Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@gmail.com> wrote:

> Check for loose lower shock bolts.
>
> On Tue, May 18, 2021 at 9:59 AM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi Andrew,
> >
> >         This is great information.  I also have the same Anti sway bar
> > recently installed.  I need to go on a few bumpy roads to test some
> ideas.
> >
> > Funny thing is after our recent 400 mile trip I didn’t hear the rattle
> > much.  Likely because it was all paved roads.  I rally hear it the most
> on
> > dirt roads.  I travel over many of them near my home in Vt.
> >
> > I looked a bit at the bar and it sure looks beautiful and also installed
> > tight.
> >
> > Did you really only take off and replace two bolts?  What did you use for
> > the shim material?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Eric Caron
> > 85 GL Auto
> > With a very happy suspension over all.
> > Rattle may turn out to be just about anything.
> >
> >
> >
> > > On May 15, 2021, at 9:08 PM, Andrew Martin <ramblinvan@GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> > >
> > > I chased a front end rattle for years on my 87 West Weekender. I’ve
> > owned and maintained many Vanagons since 1989 and this rattle really had
> me
> > stumped...
> > > I’d replaced my stock front anti-sway bar with a new and bigger T3
> > Techniques anti-sway bar that had nice polyurethane bushings so it
> couldn’t
> > be that, right? Ha!
> > > Sure enough, after all the fiddling around I’d done checking/changing
> > radiator mounts, ball joints, suspension and steering rack bushings etc
> it
> > turned out that the new bushings that attach the T3 Techniques anti-sway
> > bar to the body would appear to be tight when loaded but were loose when
> > the suspension moved.
> > > Christopher at T3 says he has a cure in production but I simply
> loosened
> > the mounting bolts, slipped a 1/4 shim between the bushing and the body
> and
> > tightened the mounts back up. Problem solved.
> > >
> > > Good luck Eric. I enjoy reading your posts very much.
> > > Andrew
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPad
> > >
> > >> On May 14, 2021, at 7:18 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
> > wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Hi folks,
> > >>
> > >> Well, the  front end rattle I developed isn’t the radiator after all.
> > I did have a radiator that was moving easily and now it is rock solid.
> But
> > There is still a rattle on bumpy roads.
> > >>
> > >> I’m going to remove my spare tire carrier just to see if by chance
> that
> > is it but I suspect something else.
> > >>
> > >> Are there any usual suspects that cause a rattle when wheels are
> > bouncing on a dirt type road.  I hear it on other roads but not as much.
> > >>
> > >> It has that something metal rattling with bumpy vibration sound.  On
> > smooth roads it is silent.
> > >>
> > >> So, any usual suspects for me to check?
> > >> Van was aligned before my trip.  They commented they thought my tire
> > carrier was rattling.
> > >>
> > >> It sure seems rock solid to me but I’ll remove and test drive.
> > >>
> > >> It is a van cafe tire holder and my rear bolts I have in there could
> be
> > a bit larger.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> The Sounds like it is either in the center, wheels or front of them
> > area.  But sound is always hard to track down.
> > >> Van is running, driving, steering, stopping, and handling great.
> > >>
> > >> I just don’t like this new fairly loud rattle.
> > >>
> > >> Eric Caron
> > >> 85 GL auto
> > >> OCD, who me?
> >
> --
>    1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
>     Oldest son is an Eagle scout.
>