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vanagonforever
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2007
Posts: 211
Location: Baltimore, MD
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 Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:24 am Post subject: Why Is This Happening to My Suspension? |
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I looked in Bentley but didn't find the information that I was looking for. The sway bar on the driver's side won't stay seated in its little rubber jobber. When I turn it often just pops right out and makes a horrible dull thudding sound. In fact, the bar was able to crush my original speedometer cable to the point where it stopped working and I had to replace it. Is the fix for this to just replace the rubber? What does that sway bar actually do beyond just keep me from swaying? I can't seem to tell a difference when it is in place or out of place while I'm driving. That strikes me as odd.
Thanks!
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1986 2WD 2.1L WBX Vanagon Weekender
1983.5 1.9L WBX Vanagon Westfalia |
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GrindGarage
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2008
Posts: 710
Location: Ocean City, NJ
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| Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:27 am Post subject: |
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is the bar link broken?? looks like it in the pic
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-cliff
91 Vanagon AUTO
97 Single Port EJ22 all smallcar.com |
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fairweather
Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2007
Posts: 663
Location: Aspen, CO
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| Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:28 am Post subject: |
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| It's broken where they always break, you need new drop links. |
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Dant
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2007
Posts: 126
Location: T County, Ohio
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| Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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Dude, it's busted! first pic!
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90 Carat
97 Jetta GLX
87 GL (nobody wanted it)
91 Syncro (Stripped,Plain Jane,fixed vent windows,no tach) also rusty. Hurray for me! |
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POS
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2004
Posts: 285
Location: In a bus, down by the river in Boonville MO
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| Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:31 am Post subject: Sway Bar |
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We repaired both sides on my westy a decade ago, welding new bolts on the ends and put in new bushings.
Seventy or Eighty Thousand miles of bumps and wiggles.
They are still together!!
Can they still be purchased new?
David |
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VWGeorge
Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2004
Posts: 342
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| Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:07 am Post subject: |
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I had exactly the same problem. I used a gear puller to remove the link ends off of the rubber bushings. After the remaining broken (where the threads were) ends were ground perfectly flat. Grade 8 stainless steel bolts were TIG welded to the ends of the links. I made sure that the hex portion of the bolts mated perfactly to the freshly grounded metal so I could get them to go through the A-arm bushings.
2. Stanless steel bolts, washers and Nylock nuts. $8.73
1. Stop at the local Welding shop $20.00
1. Can of Black spray paint. $1.99
Total was $30.72
New drop links would have cost me over $200.00 so I think I got a good deal. The handling of the van is very good now. I got a pair of Napa coil over shocks for the rear and that has made it even better. In the future I plan on installing a whiteline HD sway bar on the front and doing away with those weak components as I understand that was a common failure point. Good Luck. |
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