TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:18 am

I was driving my son to a boyscout BBQ fund raiser yesterday when I noticed the steering feeling a little sloppy as I turned into the parking lot. It wasn't too bad, it felt like it maybe was coming loose from the steering box. So I pull in to a parking spot and peered under the left front fender. :shock:

Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:26 am

At least it was an easy fix. And things really could have gotten hairy on the freeway! Glad you are ok!

Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:33 am

The OE couplings were fabric reinforced.

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC%2D111%2D415%2D417%2DMX

Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:21 am

Another application where using urethane products is very questionable......

Dale

Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:27 am

Go OE and be safe ~

Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:45 am

Glad to see that no one got hurt & you proved out your forum name... :shock:

Bryan

Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:58 am

It was a real easy fix, my brother did it while I was serving brats and pulled pork. He replaced it with a genuine VW steering coupler.
I was thankful that it happened in a parking lot. At this point I still was able to steer but it was REAL loose so traveling at a higher speed it could easily have drifted in any direction.

Sun Aug 16, 2009 2:49 pm

One of my buggy buddies over here in Oz had the same thing happened to one he had after only being on for a few months. I had a reasonably new one I got from the same shop so I ducked under my buggy to see how it was going.

Sure enough, it had a dirty big crack in it.

OEM if possible for me from now on and I'd seriously urge anyone who has bought a so called urethane couple for under 10 bucks to grab a torch and jack and have a real close look at it.

Sun Aug 16, 2009 3:17 pm

I have seen tranny mounts do the same thing. I try to use RUBBER on everything. That red stuff is junk....on just about everything. I don't even use the trailing arm bushings....

Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:02 pm

You made me a believer. Im going back to oem.

Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:10 pm

It would be nice to hear about the circumstances. I've also heard bad things about urethane but I run that coupler and have not seen any evidance of fatigue. And you all know that I drive my buggy!

Is the steering shaft at a sharp angle? Does the buggy see a lot of off-roading? Just curious.

Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:23 pm

vincent9993 wrote: It would be nice to hear about the circumstances. I've also heard bad things about urethane but I run that coupler and have not seen any evidance of fatigue. And you all know that I drive my buggy!

Is the steering shaft at a sharp angle? Does the buggy see a lot of off-roading? Just curious.

No....they are just junk

Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:32 pm

Urethane may make great bushing for torsion bars but makes lousy shift couplers and steering couplers.......

When I was rebuilding my buggy from ground up everybody I came into contact with said stay away from urethane products.... I'm glad I did...

Dale

Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:34 pm

vincent9993 wrote: It would be nice to hear about the circumstances. I've also heard bad things about urethane but I run that coupler and have not seen any evidance of fatigue. And you all know that I drive my buggy!

Is the steering shaft at a sharp angle? Does the buggy see a lot of off-roading? Just curious.

This coupler began its life on my buggy in spring of '06. The steering shaft is straight with no angle at all, and the buggy has never been off road.

Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:45 pm

Surviver wrote: This coupler began its life on my buggy in spring of '06. The steering shaft is straight with no angle at all, and the buggy has never been off road.

Wow, very disturbing... One would think they should outlaw this product... I probably threw away the warning that said this was for off-road use only, who knows.

You made me a believer and I've got my next week-end mini project cut out for me.

If only I had the time to work on the buggy, seems we're always out driving it! I supose our Canadian winter will be here soon enough.

How about sending a copy of this thread to all our sponsors on this forum that carry this product. I mean, most of them carry the OEM one anyways, no?

Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:03 am

I would be sure to take it back for a refund. The money isn't the point the point is that there needs to be some documentation on the books that they are actually failing.

Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:32 am

That's not the first time I've neard of or seen this happen! As mensioned earlier, the shift couplers fail as well! I also try to use OE RUBBER on EVERYTHING! Urethane squeaks like a bitch too, if it's not greased enough with enough of the proper grease too! :roll:

Glad you are OK! That would REALLY be bad if you were on the freeway!

Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:53 pm

I managed to find that Pic of the coupler on my mates buggy.

It was only months old and as you can see from the condition of all the surrounding hardware, the buggy had never rolled a tyre in the dirt.

Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:00 pm

Wow - that is just not right...and it just plain sux!

Before I placed my mini-order with CIP1 a few months ago I spoke to the CIP1 sales guy. I bought both a red urathane steering and shift coupler - EMPI brand.

I asked him about the urathane performance and he had "sold" me on the fact that the are supposed to last longer...

...after seeing that - how could urathane be trusted at all?

Yes, I am sure that there are some people out there that never have problems with it - but when could they be due...

It doesnt look like urathane gives any warning as to when it is going to give up. At least with rubber it could still show signs of wear...

...just my .02

ND

Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:27 pm

Wow.
:shock:
That has me worried in several ways.
I am going to tear back in to the buggy again.
Thanks for the early warning, and I am glad you and yours are safe.
:?:
This really drives home the value of this forum to me.