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wanta23
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2007
Posts: 534
Location: At The Beach
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 Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject: front shock life |
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| Because my shocks were on my bus when I bought it, I have no idea how old they are. They are the KYB shocks and seem OK but the bus does wander a bit over 50 MPH (could be these LA roads). How do I know if the shocks are still OK or need replacing? Is the wander just typical of a stock height bus? |
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420GOAT
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2006
Posts: 3343
Location: Wilmington, CA on a nice quiet street but still in the 'hood
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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check the drag link and tie rods, after changing them my wander was gone, maybe the dampner too.
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Campy
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2005
Posts: 4933
Location: Chico, CA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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Shock absorbers keep a vehicle from bouncing up and down too fast. Push down on the bumper a few times and see if the body goes back up too fast.
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Don't worry; be happy. (Baba) |
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Alan Brase
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2004
Posts: 4532
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
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| Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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| 420GOAT wrote: |
| check the drag link and tie rods, after changing them my wander was gone, maybe the dampner too. |
Check the king pins and link pins for any looseness, too.
Any looseness in any of this stuff will cause it to hunt. also the steering box itself can have wear.
BTW, you know you are supposed to grease this stuff quite often. I can't remember, but every 1000-2000 miles, I think. that's like every month.
Al
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Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home |
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Erik G
Samba Member
Joined: October 16, 2002
Posts: 13280
Location: Tejas!
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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if there is an actual problem with the shocks, KYB's have a lifetime warrenty
have someone play with the steering wheel while you look underneith. Like mentioned above, it's probably the drag link and or tie rod joints.
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BarryL 
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2004
Posts: 14269
Location: Casa de Oro, California
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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| It doesn't sound like a shock problem. So how do you get KYB to replace the bad one? I had one go out and the place I bought it said, "too bad", even with the receipt: said to go to KYB's website. Left KYB an email and they blew me off. |
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wanta23
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2007
Posts: 534
Location: At The Beach
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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Tie rod ends are new. It's not too bad I was thinking since nothing else is wrong with the bus right now, I'd try to find something  . There is a small "flat spot" in the steering sometimes when I turn the wheel, but very minor. The steering box looks new but I'm not sure of it's age. I'll poke around under there and see what I've got. |
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Alan Brase
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2004
Posts: 4532
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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| BarryL wrote: |
| It doesn't sound like a shock problem. So how do you get KYB to replace the bad one? I had one go out and the place I bought it said, "too bad", even with the receipt: said to go to KYB's website. Left KYB an email and they blew me off. |
Here's how you fix it: K-O-N-I!
Pretty expensive, but well worth it if you keep your car forever.
I've got a Bilstein on the rear of my 82 that is only 15 years old and leaking already.
Al
_________________
Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home |
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pyrOman
Fire Master
Joined: July 21, 2003
Posts: 12409
Location: Over 2002 posts deleted!
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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| BarryL wrote: |
| It doesn't sound like a shock problem. So how do you get KYB to replace the bad one? |
You go buy a new one! 
I have the same set for almost 20 years and had to replace only one over 10 years ago. Could replace them since they are old but they are still good and the "gas charge" still works. 
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Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise. |
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Split Box
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2006
Posts: 164
Location: Antioch,Ca
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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I just replaced the drag link on my 64 over the weekend.
prior to swap the slop was from 10 to 2 where I would have nothing
post swap is like butter. the damper is not bad considering it is 44 years old. drag link is an easy swap with a pickle fork & a single jack hammer. |
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static
Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2002
Posts: 1831
Location: The High Desert
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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| I finally replaced the steering dampener on mine. It actually made a difference. |
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Campy
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2005
Posts: 4933
Location: Chico, CA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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Use a tie rod end separating tool to remove the drag link from the pitman arm; don't use a pickle fork, especially on the drag link, which is connected to the steering box.
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Don't worry; be happy. (Baba) |
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