Itinerant Air-Cooled

I am adding these to Spiffy's post to keep them at the top. Feel free to contribute and I'll add to the list.

Thanks,
Sluggo


Junk: Belated; Discovered, 07/04, boots from Bug Haus lasted three weeks before splitting.

The Brazilian Tie Rods were rusty a week after installation. The boot was split when I looked at them before giving the bus away.

spiffy wrote:Colin???? Howsabout them tie rods?

Could you be more specific? Here's my tie rod file.
06/04 Replaced original tie rods for no good reason
junk: belated; discovered, 07/04, boots from Bug Haus lasted three weeks before splitting.
solution: replacement boots installed in a WalMart parking lot 08/04

I used a twist the thin screwdriver in a corkscrew motion to get the retainer rings off and on. Caution. . . do not puncture boot
Colin

For my 73 I ordered both tie rods from BD. The adjustable side was German, the static side was Brazilian.

When I gave the 73 away early this year, the German one still looked beautiful. Boot looked like new (after wiping the crud off) and the rod showed no signs of rust.

The Brazilian one, however, was rusty a week after installation. The boot was split when I looked at them before giving the bus away. (I was deciding whether to pull them off or not).

Not sure if this should be here or somewhere else, but anyway...

Bought a center tie rod for the beetle (1303) and within a few months the balljoints on it were binding up and making the steering very tight. Replaced it with another from a different vendor and had the same issue again within a few months. They appeared to be from different manufacturers.

Anyway, the solution turned out to be drilling and tapping each joint and adding a grease fitting. Pumped some lube into each one and the problem hasn't come back.

Like I said, not sure if this should go under 'junk' or maybe 'junk-and-solution' but thought I'd drop somewhere it anyway.

Here's some junk:

NAPA Shocks

I figured for $13 they were at least worth a try, and would be in better shape than my OG 1976 shock absorbers. Granted they were in better shape out of the box, but it took me all of 4 days to blow them out.

Look out for Chinese-manufactured light truck tires. Their fabric is crap and tread separations are a real and dangerous possibility. U.S. brands selling this abysmal crap include Cooper.
Colin

Brand names: Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS

http://www.reuters.com/article/domestic ... SS&sp=true

Amskeptic wrote:Look out for Chinese-manufactured light truck tires. Their fabric is crap and tread separations are a real and dangerous possibility. U.S. brands selling this abysmal crap include Cooper.
Colin

Are you refering to all Cooper tires? I just ordered Cooper SRM II's. They are 8 ply and appropriately rated. Have you heard of troubled accounts of this tire?

iwantmybustorun wrote:
Are you referring to all Cooper tires? I just ordered Cooper SRM II's. They are 8 ply and appropriately rated. Have you heard of troubled accounts of this tire?

No, turns out they were from an earlier recall-that-wasn't.
I expect to be getting a Defamation Desist Order from Zhaing Chi Tzhou, Esq.
Colin

Meyle Center Pin Bushing Kit

cheep plastic dust boot
loose pin fit inside of the brand new bushings

will let you know about the Febi. . .

CIP1 draglink for a split bus (67 in my case).

The boots have cracked and are only one month old. CIP wants to send me new boots, I say I shouldn't have to futz with a brand new part. Will go with Wolfsburg West next time, which will be very soon as CIP is going to get their part back.

CIP1 is starting to concern me....I question the quality of some of their parts. Not sure if I'd go back to them again.

Oy! I thought Meyle was junk.... Just checked and found that the Febi lower ball joints we put in our good buddy's Vanagon have about 7mm of play after 4 months!!!

DjEep wrote:Oy! I thought Meyle was junk.... Just checked and found that the Febi lower ball joints we put in our good buddy's Vanagon have about 7mm of play after 4 months!!!

And I was amazed to find perfect free rotation and no play at all in 1970 oem ball joints with torn boots three weeks ago. Friggen perfect. Put on some new boots . . . we shall see. DjEep, I strongly suggest a zerk fitting install on any torsion car suspension you happen across, it really works to make the ball joints last.
Colin