John,

How many miles on your Vanagon?  Mine went creaky-creaky especially in
colder weather after about 250,000 miles.  Gradually got worse until I
changed out the springs.  This apparently realigned everything up front.  No
rubber was changed, but all of the noises went away like magic.  Look at
your van's front end compared to others and determine if yours is sagging.
Mine is almost three inches higher than it was.

Karl Wolz

-----Original Message-----
From: John Bonino <SkateRat22@AOL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Friday, February 05, 1999 9:15 PM
Subject: suspension creak '91 carat

>the noise is coming from the front pass. side of suspension.  I was told
that
>it may be upper control arm which is commonly found to creak in vanagons.
Is
>it common?   If it is creaking does that neccessarily mean its worn out and
>should be replaced?  This is my first Vanagon and I'm trying to get a
handle.
>Family got too big for the Jetta and wife won't travel in the '69 Westy.
>