[T3] Alignment

[Daniel Nohejl]

Okay, so I found my notes from 2013 and it looks like 4 NOS spring plate bushings were installed in the summer of that year. Does the fact that one of those is squeaking mean anything at all? My impression is that the OEM rubber ones aren’t supposed to squeak. Of course NOS does include the word “old” in it so perhaps they were past their prime. In any case, that does mean that the diagonal arm bushings are original. 

I can look for marks, etc. on the spring plates but it’ll be a few days before I can do that. 


Daniel



> On Dec 13, 2016, at 10:38 AM, Daniel K. Du Vall <dduvall at 1peter4-10.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Correct you can only see a small amount of the bushing. If its the red type it should be obvious and probably OK.
> 
> If they did not replace the other one then that could be one issue on that thought when they replaced the outer one they also may have not got the alignment back to where it was definitely look for marks where the bolts might have been.
> 
> 
> The read urethane do squeak.
> 
> 
> Daniel Du Vall
> 
> ________________________________
> From: type3-vwtype3.org <type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org> on behalf of Daniel Nohejl <d.nohejl at gmail.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2016 5:41:26 AM
> To: type3 at vwtype3.org
> Subject: Re: [T3] Alignment
> 
> The spring plate bushings were replaced about 3 years ago, but not by us. That was when the car was apart for paint, a rebuilt motor, transmission, etc., so I can't say what kind of bushings were used. I do know that the left side squeaks when I rock the car. I'm fairly certain that the diagonal arm bushings were not replaced as they're still black and my understanding is that the red urethane ones are all that have been available for years. Maybe NOS ones were used but I don't remember that happening.....have to find my notes from back then.
> 
> The replacement is a daunting job in general and even more so 8 days before the winter solstice in NYC. If this needs to be done, it'd have to be in the spring. Am I correct that to even visually inspect the outer spring plate bushing that I can't just undo the cap and have to fully undo and unload the suspension?
> 
> 
> Daniel
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> On Dec 13, 2016, at 1:30 AM, Phil Hof <phil.hof at ostronic.org> wrote:
>> 
>> I second this motion.  Both the spring plate bushings and the diagonal arm bushings can wear and really throw off your rear alignment.  In fact, there is little use in an alignment until after you have checked both of these visually, and by rocking the car severely while watching for movement or squeaking/scraping noises from them.  It's a full day's job to replace all four pieces and get the ride height correct, but the improvement is well worth it in driving pleasure and tire life.
>> -Phil
>> -----------------
>> 
>>> 
>>> Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2016 12:51:41 +0000
>>> From: "Daniel K. Du Vall" <dduvall at 1peter4-10.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [T3] Alignment
>>> 
>>> Far as I remember that is correct.
>>> Need to put in a thought here.
>>> ... Might also verify that there is still grommets left on the inner arm mount and the torsion bar where the spring plate is connected.
>>> 
>>> My 49 cents,
>>> Daniel Du Vall
>>> 
>>> ----------------
>> 
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