General Technical Questions and Answers last answered over 1 year ago.
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My '87 Caravelle has the usual really bad front suspension squeak. Every tiny movement results in the most evil squeaking. I know I need to renew the front upper wishbone fulcrum bushes & yes, I have checked the WIKI on this subject, so I know how to do it. I also work in a garage so I have no problem with doing the job.
My problem is that I'm a curious soul & I want to know what is rubbing against what to cause the squeak. The new bush appears to have a metal outer casing & a metal inner sleeve. I assume that there is bonded rubber between the two. The inner sleeve cannot be a tight fit on the fulcrum pin or you would not be able to remove the pin, so the bush is not subject to any torsional forces. So where does the squeak come from & why can I not cure it with spray lubrication but wet weather DOES stop it?
Brooky.
It may be that the inner sleeve has stuck to the pin (corrosion most likely) and broke free from the rubber and is turning inside the bush. Of course it could be one of the other bushes that is squeaking.
Blimey, I hope the inner sleeve isn't stuck on the pin or I'll have hells own job getting the pins out! I didn't know that any of the other bushes could make such an evil noise & I've drenched them all in WD40 periodically to no avail. I pretty much assumed that this noise was absolutely typical of upper wishbone bush failure. It really is bad. I mean people turn round & look when I go over speed bumps! Damned embarrassing!
Brooky.
E D I T: Theres actually some outrageous speed bumps close to me in Coventry that not only need second gear, you have to virtually come to a stop - full width of the road too. If my van squeaks I know I've gone over one too fast. Normally in a wedge you can get your wheels nicely either side of the usual types but not these! Cars sail over them but its way too much in the wedge. Go more than 5 miles an hour and your chin hits the steering wheel - lol
Anyone who lives near Ball Hill will KNOW which ones I mean....
Last edited by CovKid on 02 Aug 2006, 13:42, edited 1 time in total.
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Mine does it too, I had the bushes checked by an experienced VW "Van Man" and he said the bushes were not worn to the point that they needed replacing or would be an MOT failure and I should just live with it for now.
Ive a syncro and mine does it too. I always said that if I wore ear protectors my van would drive perfectly! My girlfriend is always saying I constantly go on about squeaks, rattles, clunks etc when Im driving. Of course I should have paid more attention to the grating sound coming from my gearbox cause now my van is off the road with a shattered clutch release bearing! D'oh!
I am also have a Syncro and of course, makes that noise... really I don't care and, Airhead, my girlfriend says nothing so... a happy man with a noisy van!!
Victor Diaz
'86 Syncro 14" Westfalia Canary Islands
I'm particularly lucky in this regard, running a 1.6n/a. Because the engine has to run flat out just to get off the drive, I generally wear earplugs.
So: what squeaking?
Might be a handy mod for others to consider.
Member 1045 – 1986 1.6 n/a Diesel conversion (JK, probably from a Caddy)
