Date:         Wed, 26 Jan 2005 20:51:13 -0500
Reply-To:     AAG - Larry Word <word_aag@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         AAG - Larry Word <word_aag@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      excessive tire wear on outside while turning
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

RE:    (1) radius rod bushings; (2) anti-roll bushings; (3) control arm
bushings and its assoc. parts, etc

Problem:  excessive tire wear on outside while turning.....

    -How hard are these parts to fix?
    -Can I do this stuff with my "normal" tools?
    -Who is best supplier of said parts?
    -Parts I am referring to (1) radius rod bushings; (2) anti-roll
bushings; (3) track control arm and its assoc. parts, etc.

all that stuff I didn't want to disturb the original time I went thru.
vehicle 80-100K miles ago.

Larry
Georgia



----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis Haynes" <dhaynes@optonline.net>
To: "'AAG - Larry Word'" <word_aag@COMCAST.NET>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 7:33 PM
Subject: RE: Old vanagon steering parts - radius rod


> If your radius rod bushings are original, they are shot. Most cases of
> unexplained tire waer and poor handling can be traced here. If these
> bushings allow the rod to move under load, the Caster adjustment will
> constantly change. As the caster difference changes from side to
> side,(cross caster angle) the van will pull to one side or tire wear
> will become excessive while turning. These bushings also have an inner
> guide bushing. If worn or rusted, the rod will destroy the mounting
> hole. If bad enough, welding repair may be required.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of AAG - Larry Word
> Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 12:28 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Old vanagon steering parts - radius rod
>
> Hello group:
>
> Tonight's the night for all my ?'s.  Bear with me as I cannot afford a
> mechanic so I guess
> I'm it.....
>
> All my old vanagon steering rubber parts are cracking but how relative
> is dry-rotting issues for
> these steering parts and/or equivalent parts on our front ends:
>     -radius rod (inner and outer) rubber parts
>     -anti-roll bar bushings
>     -track control arm and its assoc. parts...talking rubber only
> here....
>     -etc.
>
> Also...what is expected life on front end parts (tie rods, balljoints,
> etc.) considering their pre-lubed and cannot be lubed easily again?
>
> Larry
>
>
>