Front End Upgrade (many pictures)
Eight years ago, against better judgement, we bought a VW Vanagon, our first real RV. Because it was a Vanagon, it almost immediately needed significant maintenance. I had barely a clue what I was d...
Forum Discussion
The re-build is coming along well and I'll have new pictures up as soon as I'm done but I've run in to a small snag and I could use some opinions here.
I'm upgrading to the much better Hellwig sway-bar. The 2007 sway bar is fastened to the frame with four identical bolts, each one tightened down to 18 pounds. The Post-2007 sway bar is fastened with two different-sized bolts: the rearward bolts are the same as the 2007 sway bar but the frontward ones are considerably bigger and they are snugged down to 111 pounds. The way I see it I have three options:
1: go with the original bolts all around.
2: go with upgraded 10.9 grade steel bolts and tighten them to say 60 or 70 pounds
3: using a tap, re-thread the hole on the frame to accommodate the larger bolt
My inclination is to go with Option 2. I'm not sure the original bolts can or should be tightened any more than spec. I got new 10.9 grade bolts (see picture) from Fastenal which should be able to handle a lot more torque.
I'm reluctant to drill/tap a new hole because it always seems to me that home-tapped threads are never as strong or precise as factory-cut threads, especially if it's going to have over a hundred pounds of torque on it.
Anyway, whatcha think, kids? I know this seems like I'm over-thinking this, perhaps, but it was my goal from the outset to make this project as good and safe as I can.
I'm upgrading to the much better Hellwig sway-bar. The 2007 sway bar is fastened to the frame with four identical bolts, each one tightened down to 18 pounds. The Post-2007 sway bar is fastened with two different-sized bolts: the rearward bolts are the same as the 2007 sway bar but the frontward ones are considerably bigger and they are snugged down to 111 pounds. The way I see it I have three options:
1: go with the original bolts all around.
2: go with upgraded 10.9 grade steel bolts and tighten them to say 60 or 70 pounds
3: using a tap, re-thread the hole on the frame to accommodate the larger bolt
My inclination is to go with Option 2. I'm not sure the original bolts can or should be tightened any more than spec. I got new 10.9 grade bolts (see picture) from Fastenal which should be able to handle a lot more torque.
I'm reluctant to drill/tap a new hole because it always seems to me that home-tapped threads are never as strong or precise as factory-cut threads, especially if it's going to have over a hundred pounds of torque on it.
Anyway, whatcha think, kids? I know this seems like I'm over-thinking this, perhaps, but it was my goal from the outset to make this project as good and safe as I can.
