Van Revival - Squeak No More

The van looks great now. It shines like a new penny... however it sounds like it's dragging some too. Every single bounce, rock, and roll of the van's body generates squeaks of different tunes like springs of an old mattress only louder. Not only is it annoying, it gets embarrassing as well. So I had it checked by a local garage that also happens to sell tires. I had planned to buy tires from them while the van was still being painted, but the squeaking noise is priority for now. The noise was the least of the problems according to the mechanic. 

Suspension parts replaced

 The problem was all suspension related. There were several bushings that desperately needed replacement. They were already scraping at each other and causing the noises. One of the ball joints suffered because of the busted bushings and also had to be replaced. This translates to the wheel not being aligned perpendicular to the road causing uneven wear on the thread. One side of the tire tread is noticeably more worn and this could potentially be dangerous even when the roads are not slippery with rain.

Uneven wear on thread

The problem would have been an easy fix since all replacement parts were available. But a nut holding a stabilizer arm was making things difficult. I came into the shop around mid-day thinking it would be enough time to have the suspension fixed. But I was wrong. Quitting time passed and the mechanics (2 of them) were still at it. I left the van in the shop and the mechanics stayed overtime to get the problem nut loose. They decided to cut through the nut and just replace it... hoping they find one with the same size (it was quite a big nut that screws on to an equally big bolt. They finished the job the following day and made computerized wheel alignments to complete the maintenance. 

The wheel stands straight now and there's little chance of uneven wear now that everything's shipshape. Parts and labor amounted to almost P5,000.00 but it was worth it. Knowing that the van's footing is straight and I'm not wasting tire tread needlessly and unevenly.