Paul & Sabrina's Cheap EV Conversion - Page 17 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Tango Charlie · 09-26-2008, 02:12 PM

C-A-M-P-A-I-G-N

The video idea is genius. Then the VW aficionados can render wise determinations.
From your description, it sounds to me like a tie rod end, which is part of the steering system.

metroschultz · 09-26-2008, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

I don't really know the parts I need. I do know that when I move the wheel (off the ground) at 9 and 3, there's an inch of play that happens at a rubber joint thing. It's pretty close to the wheel. There's a metal bar from the wheel to the rubber joint thing. Next, I probably should buy a new steering damper (I think it's called that). Basically, I have no idea what's wrong, and I just want it to not shake violently at 35 mph.

Lead me to believe you are describing an
Outer Tie Rod End
It is easy to replace. (and you already have a repair manual)
You will need to get a front end alignment after you replace it.
With all you have accomplished so far this will be a cake walk for you.
S.

metromizer · 09-30-2008, 08:01 PM

VW guy here:

There's are a few things it could be, and they are mostly easy to fix, and cheap, too. I would not suspect the steering damper to be the problem, however.

Here's how I diagnose VW front suspensions with lots of play in them:

1) Get the car up on j-stands.
2) While laying under the car on your back, have someone else grab the offending tire at the 9-3 position and slowly move it, such that the steering wheel moves left then right then left.
3) Observe.
4) if you can't see anything, try resting the tire on ramps instead of jack stands, while you are under the car have someone turn the steering wheel 90 left and 90 degrees right.

The outer tie rod end is a possible culprit, but I'd look at the pitman arm where it attaches to the steering box, they often loosen up. The steering coupler needs to be checked, same with the steering box itself. Ocasionally the trailing arm attachment (grub screws) loosen, and the entire trailing arm wobbles.

Contact the guys at Wolfsburg International (Steve Phillips, Redding, CA) for all your front end parts. The last time I checked, they had an exchange program for new ball joints pressed into core trailing arms

Good luck

MPaulHolmes · 10-02-2008, 03:27 AM

Thanks for the suggestions metromizer. I'll order from the guys you suggested. Man, I've been really busy! I've been working at the local community college, and a teacher had a heart attack, and I took all his classes too! aaahhh! He'll be better soon though. Then I'll fix that dang front end.

toyobug · 10-02-2008, 06:30 AM

what do you teach?

MPaulHolmes · 10-03-2008, 02:54 AM

I teach math. Weenie basic Algebra and intermediate algebra. After teaching basic algebra once, I feel like it shouldn't be taught any more, because it feels like the universe should understand it now. But teaching it over and over again is sort of messed up.

x + 1 = 3

subtract 1 on both sides

x + 1 = 3

subtract 1, oh forget it.

aaaahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh the humanity. I think my brain is going to shrivel up and die.

Maybe I'll get a video of the underside of the car this weekend. I like the summer better, where there is no work. oh well.

Way better than substituting though.

metromizer · 10-03-2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPaulHolmes

I teach math. Weenie basic Algebra and intermediate algebra. After teaching basic algebra once, I feel like it shouldn't be taught any more, because it feels like the universe should understand it now. But teaching it over and over again is sort of messed up.

x + 1 = 3

subtract 1 on both sides

x + 1 = 3

subtract 1, oh forget it.

aaaahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh the humanity. I think my brain is going to shrivel up and die.

my VW racing daughter is retaking intermediate algebra at the community college for the second time! I'm going to show her this thread, just to bust her chops a little

dremd · 10-03-2008, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metromizer

my VW racing daughter is retaking intermediate algebra at the community college for the second time! I'm going to show her this thread, just to bust her chops a little

A vw racing daughter?
Is she single?
I'd be happy to help with algebra:-)

dremd · 10-03-2008, 09:46 PM

Doubble post

Tango Charlie · 10-08-2008, 10:48 PM

How often do you drive the car, Paul? Is it your daily driver now, or just a special-trip-to-the-store-for-ice-cream-mobile?

MPaulHolmes · 10-09-2008, 02:14 AM

I drive it each day, but I keep it under 30 mph so I don't violently shake. Once I get that fixed, I'll probably go like 200 mph! Well, maybe not quite that fast, but almost.

I work at one school, and then teach at another campus of the same school. I drive the gasoline car to one campus, and the electric car to the other campus, stopping at the house to switch cars. I had a math lesson around the car yesterday. It was really fun. There are math applications up the ying yang surrounding EVs.

MPaulHolmes · 10-24-2008, 02:36 AM

The rainy season has begun! I need to finish the splash guard under the motor. Then there are the stupid vents from above so the rain can sort of fall inside the motor. That makes me real angry. I think I might just seal up the vents. Also, I need to get a big forced air blower thing that will keep the motor cooler. I think it's a bit undersized, since it's sometimes pretty hot after quite a bit of driving.

I'm taking it over to a high school auto shop nearby since they are talking about EV's right now.

MPaulHolmes · 11-09-2008, 07:57 PM

I waterproofed the back of the motor. I added a piece of wood under it, with a rubber mat under that that is attached to the sides of the car. It's hard to explain. I'll take a picture later. Also, I put sheet metal over the vents in back, JB welding them into place, since the vents keep leaking water all over the dang motor! Now I should be able to drive it in the rain. I still need to fix the shimmy, but it hasn't shimmied a bit since I have been keeping the speed at or below 30 mph. I need some suggestions for mean-spirited and/or really funny bumper stickers to put on the car. I've been brainstorming and here is what I have:

My car emits no pollution, but your car does, so neener neener neener!

I hope you die from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.

Gas, it's not just the stinky stuff out of people's bottoms, but also out of tailpipes.

As you can tell, the list needs some work.

bennelson · 11-09-2008, 08:32 PM

In the post just above this one, in the farthest right image, the one of the motor - what's that pink bungie cord doing?

I have finally gotten all the bungie cords worked out of my conversion!!!!

MPaulHolmes · 11-09-2008, 08:44 PM

That piece of wood isn't being held up by anything. It's just sitting there under the motor. So, I drilled 2 big holes through the wood, one on each side of the motor, and threaded the bungee cord through it, and then around the spacers of the adapter plate. Now the wood is held very firmly against the adapter plate. ya! Hmm, I might have to add one more bungee cord up front, since I needed to cut a big hole in the trunk to open it since it got stuck. I'm sort of going the other direction on the bungee cord usage! haha!

MetroMPG · 11-09-2008, 10:30 PM

Ha - I was going to ask the same bungee cord question.

Glad you're getting lots of use out of the car, Paul. Including as a teaching aid!

MPaulHolmes · 11-10-2008, 12:19 AM

It's amazing how interested people are in the car. Now, my next thing is to find a blower that fits right over the back end of the motor, so I can dramatically improve the duty cycle. Then, I'll friggen be driven dirty! ya! What does that mean? It's a song, but I don't get it.

For example, the Killacycle has 2 motors that are rated at 10 hp each. He uses powerful blowers that increase the HP to like 250! That is so thugged out! I found a Dayton DC blower, but it would fit on a 5 inch diameter motor, and mine is 6.7" diameter! dang it!

I could use Oprah's mouth, but she's too expensive, and I would be WAY over the car's weight limit carrying her around in the back.

Tango Charlie · 11-10-2008, 11:41 AM

Besides, that'd be all HOT air, and full of... oh, never mind.

MPaulHolmes · 11-10-2008, 12:41 PM

oh ya, I forgot that you want to funnel cool air into the motor. Plus, the brushes would get all gummed up with number 2. THE ONE thing Oprah could offer (get it? THE ONE?) is she could ... I got nothin, I just wanted to say "THE ONE" joke.

I'm going to attempt to drive the car in the terrible pouring down rain today. I hope my stuff works to keep everything dry and shriveled like Oprah's heart.

MPaulHolmes · 11-11-2008, 12:18 AM

Oh ya, So, it was all rainy today, and like a dang gangster, I was ridin' dirty to school, and the under side of the rubber mat was damp, but the motor was completely dry. Now I need to fix the shimmy so I can exceed 30 mph! Then add a blower, so I can maybe even go on the freeway!

Oh ya I'm white and Nerdy, I mean I'm ridin' dirty. Has anyone seen the Weird Al video for that song?

Edit: Yesterday it was so rainy that it was flooding! I had to almost use my car as a boat! And still, the motor was dry! Well, it wasn't quite that bad, but I did run over some good sized mud puddles, with no adverse affects to the motor.

I discovered that the shimmy only happens when I turn left, or change lanes to the left lane, but still generally only over 30 mph. My left blinker now works too. I think that since it's raining, that it somehow made the blinker work.