Sounds familiar....

I have an '81 Vanagon and have fought a squeeky bushing for too long.
Now I'm waiting for a used upper arm--Recycled Auto is getting ready
to take apart a dead Vanagon.

Recycled told me the the dealer's retail price (maybe like $65 each) but
quoted me $39.  So the dealer sells MUCH cheaper to another auto 
business(!)  If the used arm doesn't do the trick, I'll get new ones
and have someone put them on the arm.

My problem is coming from one bushing--the front one on the driver's
side.  That is clear with a stethoscope at my 911 mechanic's.  I
have tried getting various lubes into the bushing with only temp
success.  The noise comes back.  It started mostly when very cold,
but now is mostly when warm!  It is a "groan" kind of noise.  When I
wash the bus and hit that area, it usually quiets down for a couple
of days. 

I believe my problem originated when I "jeeped" the thing up some
mtn tracks.  Later the drop link to the sway bar broke--then broke
again--then again.  At that point the dealer suggested the lower arm
was bent slightly and thus stressing the link.  A used lower arm
fixed THAT problem.  The the groan began! 

My arm has no slop--it is tight to pivot when I'm taking it off.

BTW--I filed a groove on the bolthead and note its position.  That keeps
my camber from changing when I take it apart.

				Richard A. Jones
				Computing & Network Services
				University of Colorado at Boulder
				<jones@colorado.edu>