What's this part?

[mickey mouse]

Hi guys I have a photo here of something with rubber in shreds. i'd like to know what it is, what it does, and how dangerous it is in such a condition!

Cheers!

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

Ball joint. You need to replace it! In fact, replace ALL of them to be on the safe side. This is not a time to cheap out.
_________________
Toby http://www.aircoolednut.com/
Did I mention that I'm an original Darksider?
'72 VW Squareback, 2007cc, GB 5-speed, rag top; '76 VW Riviera Penthouse Sundowner 2.0L; 2015 Audi S5 Cabby w/Stage II APR; '06 Ducati Sport Classic 1000; '14 Ducati Diavel Strada
The First Invasion

[bsairhead]

Call around for a shop that has done this, not a shop that says it can do this. Bus ball joints are not for the inexperienced.

[mickey mouse]

I have to drive it tomorrow to a place about an hour away. What is likely to happen? And what's the worst case scenario?

[bsairhead]

[mickey mouse]

What about this? I found one of the screws part of the way out, so I tightened it back in, but it has come out again!

[bsairhead]

Have it towed. If you loose an axle not only do you have to tow it you can cause more damage.

[mickey mouse]

What would you say is happening there? There are plenty more screws holding it on. But there is a lot of grease!

[bsairhead]

Grease on a bolt missing the washer or spreader bar. Clean it and tighten it to the proper torque.

[my59]

It looks like the bolt above is missing, along with the plate that goes from bolt to bolt, the spreader bar. So the CV is not evenly tightened. The grease is coming out of the CV joint which it should not be.
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[mickey mouse]

Do you think it's just a matter of getting the missing spreader- washer things, repacking it with grease and putting it back together?

[bsairhead]

[dodger tom]

i know a good vw mechanic on the central coast. not sure where you are in relation to that. i sent you a pm, but haven’t heard back.
_________________
1978 Champaign Edition Westfalia
Would never find the time to keep up another classic air-cooled.

[Wildthings]

The original bolts are very high strength, you want bolts with the triple square heads and not the six point allen heads. You also want to use the Vanagon torque spec of 33 ft*lbs. If you are missing the spreader bars, then you need to come up with them as well. I would certainly want to regrease the CV's as they have dumped a lot of grease at this point. For myself, I would clean and grease all four joints, use triple square bolts with spreaders and torque to 33 ft*lbs.

[Wildthings]

The original bolts are very high strength, you want bolts with the triple square heads and not the six point allen heads. You also want to use the Vanagon torque spec of 33 ft*lbs. If you are missing the spreader bars, then you need to come up with them as well. I would certainly want to regrease the CV's as they have dumped a lot of grease at this point. For myself, I would clean and grease all four joints, use triple square bolts with spreaders and torque to 33 ft*lbs.

Do some reading and have a full roll of paper towels available and a lot of rags before tearing into the CV's.

[mickey mouse]

Thanks guys

[HarryFD]

[mickey mouse]

I can't seem to find those moon washers, or number 28, I mean.

They're not in this kit it seems:

https://www.westcoastmetric.com/i-22967072-boot-in...73-74.html

Any idea where to find them?

[HarryFD]

[dodger tom]