PRE-RUNNER - OCTOBER

RAISING YOUR REAR SUSPENSION

TO START THIS MONTH YOU WILL NEED TO GO AND READ THE TECHNICAL SECTION. THIS ARTICLE WILL GIVE YOU THE PROCEDURE FOR RAISING YOUR REAR SUSPENSION BY RESETTING THE TORSION BAR PRE-LOAD.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE WILL CHANGE FOR A PRE-RUNNER...
FIRST YOU WILL WANT TO GET A URETHANE TORSION BAR BUSHING KIT AVAILABLE FROM SWAY-AWAY OR SEVERAL OF THE MAJOR AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS SUCH AS BUGPACK. ALSO GET THE URETHANE BUSHINGS FOR THE DIAGONAL ARM MOUNTS.
BEFORE YOU INSTALL THE URETHANE BUSHINGS GIVE THEM A LIBERAL COATING OF WHITE LITHIUM GREASE AVAILABLE AT MOST AUTO SUPPLY OUTLETS. THIS WILL HELP WITH THE INSTALLATION AND PREVENT ANNOYING SQUEEKING.
YOU CAN GAIN SOME EXTRA LIFT BY CUTTING A NOTCH IN YOUR SPRING-PLATE WHERE IT MEETS THE STOP. DO NOT CUT MORE THAN 1/2" INTO THE SPRING-PLATE.
THE FINAL DIFFERENCE IS IN THE TOE SETTING... ONCE YOU HAVE THE BEARING HOUSING RECONNECTED TO THE SPRING-PLATE, LEAVE THE BOLTS SLIGHTLY LOOSE AND PUT YOUR TIRES BACK ON. LOWER THE CAR SO THAT THE WHEELS LIGHTLY TOUCH THE GROUND AND GET A TAPE MEASURE (YOU WILL NEED SOMEONE TO ASSIST YOU HERE). WE WANT TO HAVE A TOE-IN OF 1/4" FOR OFF-ROADING. TAKE YOUR TAPE MEASURE AND MEASURE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE TIRES (HALFWAY UP). NEXT MEASURE BETWEEN THE FRONT OF THE TIRES (MAKE SURE TO USE THE SAME REFERENCE POINT i.e. INNER TREAD EDGE). WE WANT THE DIFFERENCE IN MEASUREMENTS TO BE 1/4" LESS UP FRONT. TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS SHOVE THE TIRES FRONTWARDS OR BACKWARDS MAKING SURE THAT IT IS THE SAME ON BOTH SIDES. YOU CAN CHECK FOR EQUALITY FROM SIDE TO SIDE BY MEASURING FROM THE SPRING-PLATE HUB COVER TO THE FRONT OF EACH TIRE AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE THE SAME.
ONCE YOU ARE SATISIFIED THAT YOU HAVE THE 1/4" TOE-IN AND THAT BOTH SIDES ARE EQUAL YOU CAN MAKE A SCRIBE MARK AND TAKE THE WHEELS BACK OFF. TIGHTEN THE SPRING-PLATE TO BEARING HOUSING BOLTS, REINSTALL YOUR TIRES AND YOU'RE READY TO HIT THE TRAILS AGAIN.

WELL, THAT'S IT FOR THIS MONTH. NEXT MONTH I'LL DISCUSS THE PROCESS OF RAISING YOUR FRONT SUSPENSION.

NEW PRE-RUNNER PICS... AND IT'S FOR SALE!!! MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY PICTURES SECTION DEVOTED TO OFF-ROAD VW PICTURES. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOUR BAJA, PRE-RUNNER, BUGGY OR RACER AND POST THEM IN THIS SECTION ALONG WITH ITS INFO AND YOUR HOMEPAGE URL SO EVERYBODY CAN GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING WITH THEIRS. SO SEND IN YOUR PICS, INFO AND URL SOON!
I'M ALSO GOING TO TALK BROCK INTO ADDING AN OFF-ROAD SECTION TO THE LINKS PAGE.

FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR TO SUBMIT YOUR PICTURES E-MAIL ME AT:
dirtbugz@oasisvw.com
OR CONTACT ME BY ICQ # 18583378