Help, my front suspension is driving me mad!!!!

Post by **HOT 1200** » 10 Mar 2008, 13:47

I changed the top wishbone bushes on my 87 Caravelle 6 weeks ago, They were well spent and had lots of play, new ones have stoped all the sqeeking and creeking for a month.
But, the creeking noise has come back again Dow!!!!
I have checked everything, what the hell is it.......

Do they naturally creek....?

GaV

Post by **toomanytoys** » 10 Mar 2008, 13:50

No
did you use best quality top bushes? the cheap ones are rubbish apparently..
done the squirt of WD40 on each bush (1 at a time) to see which one it eliminates? (doesnt always work mind)
Could be the lower bush...

Post by **HOT 1200** » 10 Mar 2008, 14:09

GSF supplied the bushes........

Think I will slacken the main top bolt to 'release' any tension that may of built up, then retighten again. This has worked on other vehicles when new bushes have been fitted.
The problem being we fit the bushes with the vehicle 'jacked up', when van is back on its wheels, the bush is now under tension even at normal ride heights..... (hope that makes sense)

GaV

Post by **toomanytoys** » 10 Mar 2008, 14:47

perfec sense.. worth a try... GSF did have 2 qualities......

Post by **dave friday** » 10 Mar 2008, 16:16

Mine squeek [original bushes] no play though,i read about replacement bushes squeeking soon after they've been fitted on one of the U S sites.
[Samba or VWGTD].

Post by **HOT 1200** » 20 Mar 2008, 12:14

Well, I slackend off the top bolt to reliev any stress that may of built up, the sqeeking remains but has changed to more of a creeking noise. No play and all seems well, guess I will just have to live with it.....?

Perhaps it may be worth looking at the front shocks...?
The noise sounds like its coming from inside the seat box's....
(Ive obviously checked, nothing going on in there.......)
GaV

Post by **Syncro G** » 20 Mar 2008, 14:05

On my landy I don't tighten the bushes properly till I've driven it down the road and back hitting afew potholes with a slight load in the back - that way it settles down to being in the normal position and stays there when you tighten everything up. The theory is if they are set where the wheels would be without weight they will always be stressed under normal loading and could ware faster. Cheep ones seem to die at an alarming rate on the landy if this isn't done! Might lower the rideheight slightly, you might thank thats good or bad.

I won't pretend there isn't alot of differences between a leaf sprung landy and a T3's suspension but they both use rubber bushes ergo it needen't be too different in that area.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 20 Mar 2008, 14:21

You cant leave the top wishbone bolt "loose" its what controls the camber angles.. they will need to be reset since you have removed the wishbone..

check the other suspension components, but the squeek is usually from the wishbone bushes..

Post by **Syncro G** » 20 Mar 2008, 14:56

toomanytoys wrote:You cant leave the top wishbone bolt "loose" its what controls the camber angles.. they will need to be reset since you have removed the wishbone..

check the other suspension components, but the squeek is usually from the wishbone bushes..

Are, good point! Forgot about ajustable cambers.