Club 80-90 Forums

The Front suspension is squeeking. It started on my trip to France and prgressively got worse. It seems to be coming from the upper arm bushes or elongated washers. It started after I had the suspension aligned.
I have sprayed WD on the washers which has quietened it down a bit, there is also an occasional clunk.
I have had a look under the van but can't spot anything loose.
All ball joints bushes are new.
one thing I didn't do was measure the upper arm play when I did the A arm bushes.
Could this be it
Perhaps I should order some from VW

I understand there are 4.0mm 251 407 133A
5.0MM 251 407 133B
5.5MM 251 407 133C

are they still available

Allowable play is 0.5mm a side with the bolt lose.
Do I just measure 1mm at one side with the A arm pushed over or what

Any advice

The squeek is driving me nuts.
Also should I pack the bolt bushes with grease.

Cheers

That squeeking is a clear indication of worn upper A-arm bushes. The squeeking will stop when bushes are totally worn out, but then your car will eat tires, rattle and feel unstable. Change bushes

Bushes are new
And not GSF
Baxters Best

Pickles wrote:Bushes are new
And not GSF
Baxters Best

I had that problem once too. Had to remove and soak in some kind of marine grease. Worked for 6 months.

olive oil treatment

Extra Virgin?

There are two things you can do

A. Replace bushes .....

B. Turn up radio .....

I have found that you can quieten the A arm bushes (if otherwise they are all right) by disconecting the arm from the upright, and moving the arm through the largest possible arc, then loosening the camber bolt and returning the arm to the starting position, and then tightening it again, and moving the arm once more. Repeat a couple of times.

What this does is to turn the inside of the A arm bush relative to the outside, so that the suspension movement works on a different section of the internal bearing. I also think this spreads the grease around inside the joint.

This worked on mine.

Mine still also gets a little clonk, especially on slightly rough pitted road surfaces. I dont know if this is the powerflex lower control arm joint being to tight, or as you say on yours, movement in the top control A arm. Mine similarily has all new joints. I know I had difficulty in getting the right amount of tourque onto the 19mm camber bolt, as this bolt holds the suspension in place against great forces. On mine the round washer you speak of is not a tight fit in the round cut out on the suspension tower, I have wondered if the clunking is the washer moving against the suspension tower as it is not held firm enough by the 19mm bolt.

Simon.

Mine are creaking too. Were replaced with baxters recently and are creaking worse than before. Spoke to baxter at VF and he said its more common on syncros because of the cast A arm. He said I should check the play and fit the correct washer width.

Yes washers come in 4.0mm,5.0mm and 5.5mm see previous post
Play should be 0.5mm each side.
I guess Baxter right the 2wd arms will pull in as you tighten the 19mm nut
The 4wd won't

I thick it's the large washers that are moving

I've got the washers in stock, got them in for when I did mine, ended up using new ones same thickness as the originals so have the thicker and thinner ones unused and the originals preloved, may still be available from VW, if not then probably from classic so can get more if required