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bokuglen Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006 Posts: 43 Location: Southeast Pennsylvania
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 8:10 pm Post subject: How to stop rear suspension squeaks |
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The rear of my 74 bus started squeaking loudly on every bump. I can also step on the rear bumper and hear the squeaks, which seem to come from behind the spring plate covers, on both sides.
I tried spraying lube around that area, but no luck in quieting down. Is it safe to just remove the spring plate covers and apply some lube to the bushings? |
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KentABQ Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2016 Posts: 2406 Location: Albuquerque NM
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 8:17 pm Post subject: Re: How to stop rear suspension squeaks |
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Try spraying the bushings at the top and bottom of the shocks. _________________ -Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
---williamM |
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telford dorr Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2009 Posts: 3551 Location: San Diego (Encinitas)
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Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 10:47 am Post subject: Re: How to stop rear suspension squeaks |
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The rubber doughnuts on either side of the spring plates wear out, causing the torsion bar to start rubbing on things. You need to pull the covers and inspect. BUT, before you remove the covers, you need to prepare to reinstall them. Pull a cover bolt. Go to your favorite place where you get good quality bolts, and pick up four matching full thread bolts, maybe four (from memory here) inches long, and some nuts and washers. Once you pull the covers, the torsion bars will move out of position. Inspect the outer doughnut for wear. If it isn't really nice, replace both the inner and outer. Mark the torsion bar and spring plate so that you can get them realigned properly. Mark, then disconnect the spring plate from the axle housing. Pull the spring plate from the torsion bar, but leave the bar engaged with the center section. Clean everything. Using talc (baby powder) as a rubber lube, install new doughnuts, then reinstall the spring plate onto the torsion bar, aligning to your mark. Install the cover using the long bolts. Each bolt should have a nut and washer on it. Run the bolts in, then slowly and equally tighten down the nuts, forcing the cover plate to push the doughnut and torsion bar back into position. You'll have to jack the spring plate up to get it above the stop. Once the cover is on correctly, remove the long bolts, one at a time, and replace with the stock bolts. Reattach the spring plates to the rear axle hubs, carefully aligning with your marks. Torque to spec. _________________ '71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST) |
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Davada66 Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2017 Posts: 61
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 9:34 am Post subject: Re: How to stop rear suspension squeaks |
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It sounds like the torsion bar on the axle, there are large rubber bushings compressed when reinstalling the bars, if you don't lubricate them with powered graphite they will squeak as the rubber wears out. It is a very difficult procedure to remove the plates and reinstall must be done by a mechanic |
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aeromech Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 16954 Location: San Diego, California
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 9:54 am Post subject: Re: How to stop rear suspension squeaks |
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Might only be the shock absorbers _________________ Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 10:52 am Post subject: Re: How to stop rear suspension squeaks |
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As others said -
Real talc powder on new rubber bushings if it is the torsion tubes. Is a job, BTW those of you who do not have real talc better get some now because that huge judgement over talc and ovarian cancer is going to pull that product off the market.
Check the bolts on the shocks where they go into the body to be sure that there are no cracks. Sometimes when steel is cracking it will squeak. You can also spray some silicone spray on the shock bushings to see if that helps. _________________ “Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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scrivyscriv Samba Electrician
Joined: October 04, 2011 Posts: 2922 Location: Memphis
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 6:31 pm Post subject: Re: How to stop rear suspension squeaks |
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Davada66 wrote: |
... if you don't lubricate them with powered graphite they will squeak as the rubber wears out. |
I'm not much of a suspension mechanic but I do read the manuals.. I believe the Bentley manual does say not to use graphite on the donut bushings. A Teflon spray might be an acceptable alternative. Other than that it just says talc powder.
Maybe someone could try ceramic coating the inside of the covers? If I get mine done any time soon I'll bake some VHT exhaust paint on the inside of them. _________________ Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help. |
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