Steering issues 59 vs 66 steering need some help

[66 dormi]

So I’ve owned two 66 buses that were easily steerable at 65 mph and prior to repairs 55 mph with ease
The 66 model year came with a sway bar

I now have a 59 build bus that can’t be steered with confidence over 50 mph it seemed to be happy at 45?? Now anything can be fixed but what am I missing do I need that sway bar throwing money at things doesn’t fix it so need some help
Is it the steering box? I can take the play out of it to zero so not sure
I have standard new shocks not the kyb gas adjust brand that I normally get

Quite frankly I’ve never been scared driving a bus and I’ve been driving them for over thirty years now

The bus
59 panel 1600 sp 64 big nut trans

What’s been done so far
New drag link
New tie rods
Steering dampener
New shocks
Link pins adjusted
No up down play in the centre pin lever thingy that’s on the beam (yeah I forgot what its called)
8 ply bus tires
No slop no play
I’m working on adjusting the steering box for the 10 th time but with zero play however the box is tight and hard to turn so will have to back it up a little and introduce some play
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DORMOBILE TOP WANTED!!!!
1978 westy daily driver
1960 panel camper project

Mini R53 bob the tomato

[Lind]

The anti-sway bar mostly helps in cornering, although it also helps reduce the inherit oversteer in crosswinds that buses have. If you are experiencing instability at speed, then something else is wrong.

The adjustment screw on the steering box is almost always not needed, and usually will just trash on your steering box by over-tightening it.

Are your wheels straight and properly balanced? Jack the bus up and spin the front wheel by hand.

Is there excessive play at the steering wheel?
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Wanted:
Idaho VW license plate frames or other dealership items.
VWoA literature and early dealership or distributor literature/pictures/information
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[66 dormi]

Yeah I think something is off but I’ve just run out of ideas and things to replace that are worn out hence the sway bar inquiry…. I’m jacking the front end up now to take the stress off the steering box from turning it to zero play and will report back
_________________
DORMOBILE TOP WANTED!!!!
1978 westy daily driver
1960 panel camper project

Mini R53 bob the tomato

[Eric&Barb]

Check toe in one more time.
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In Stereo, Where Available!

[66 dormi]

Ok with the wheels of the ground reset the steering box back 1/4 turn just so there’s a bit of drag at centre pulled all the grease fittings cleaned and checked them the one on the swing lever? was plugged and not taking grease so I did all of them… beam fully greased steering checked I got one inch play with the bus on the ground just like my 78 bus

Wheels are straight steering wheel is straight wheels have been balanced however I did note a flat spot from sitting all winter (smoothed out after the tires warmed up)

I don’t t have the Bentley handy it still hasn’t returned from lending it out so unfortunately I don’t have the toe in measurements if you got yours handy that would be awesome!

Test drive hands off at 40 no problem on a smooth surface 50 is doable and with some more time in it 55 could be a possibility but after that it in a crosswind it’s too unpredictable
On the country roads which are basically paved gravel very uneven I get bump steer and life is easy at 45 after that it’s a work out

Brake lights are stuck on and the starter bushing failed …crank starting sucks ah it never ends
_________________
DORMOBILE TOP WANTED!!!!
1978 westy daily driver
1960 panel camper project

Mini R53 bob the tomato

[Eric&Barb]

Page 158, section 15 of the other type 2 manual on thesamba:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/type2...manual.pdf

That and a lot more thru the "Technical" button at top right of thesamba webpages.

Personally prefer to measure on the rims for more precise measurement than trying to get same reading off the tires themselves.
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In Stereo, Where Available!

[66 dormi]

Thank you! Looks like I got some measuring to do!
_________________
DORMOBILE TOP WANTED!!!!
1978 westy daily driver
1960 panel camper project

Mini R53 bob the tomato

[Mile High Puma]

What about the rubber spring plate doughnuts? I think those often get overlooked and deform over time affecting the rear toe.
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1965 Velvet Green DC

[Clara]

Pickup your Muir book and turn to shimmies and shakes
Have a friend Wiggle the steering wheel while you are under the bus and look for play.
Do the other diagnostics as well

Sloppy tie rods etc add up

You may have more than one worn part

My 56 had a quarter turn of the steering wheels of slop when we got it

Old crappy tires also are a thing. Crack?
Also, How’s the tire pressure?
Bump steer sounds like a worn dampner.
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The Obsolete Air-Cooled Documentation Project http://oacdp.org/

[66 dormi]

[nlorntson]

Also check the play at the output shaft on the steering gear

[chrisflstf]

You can check toe in with a tape measure. Measure the tread width at the front, compare to the rear. 1/16 to 1/8 inch is good

[Eric&Barb]

String/rope stretches, which is why land surveyors used metal chains as far back as the 1700s.

Better to use two pieces of thin wood like 1" by 1", or even bamboo and a pencil to mark the wood.
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In Stereo, Where Available!

[Eric&Barb]

[Joey]

I find the new steering dampners too stiff and don’t allow the steering to return to centre easily. I don’t run them on any of my VWs.
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Joey

‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle

[BulliBill]

I'm grateful to be lucky enough to have bought the VW dealership tool for checking/adjusting toe-out/toe-in decades ago.

But before scoring that cool tool, I used two wooden yard sticks sliding against each other. Didn't the Muir "Idiot Book" show how to use a pair of yardsticks to adjust/set toe-in?

Bill
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[nlorntson]

Park on a flat surface.

Put a piece of duct tape on the rear face of each front tire

Make a dot on the tape.

Measure the distance between the dots.

Roll the bus forward so the dots are now in the front.

Measure between the dots again.

This will show toe in or toe out. Adjust as necessary.

[BarryL]

What are the chains for?

[Clara]

[66 dormi]

Thank you yes I have way too much toe in so will adjust that and report back dealing with a new master cylinder issue for the third time first before I can drive it again
Bullibill that’s a really neat tool by the way!!
_________________
DORMOBILE TOP WANTED!!!!
1978 westy daily driver
1960 panel camper project

Mini R53 bob the tomato