Date:         Wed, 27 Sep 2000 15:03:04 -0400
Reply-To:     Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Subject:      Bus Depot Spring Report
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hi all,

I purchased a set of Ron's "Westfalia Lowering Springs" and Bilstein shocks
for my 90 Carat.  Here are my impressions:

The springs are indeed labelled incorrectly for front and rear (as Ron
warned) -- but they are different enough that you can't get them wrong.

The rear ones had coil diameter and wire guage that were smaller than what
I had on there originally.  (Unfortunately, I can't say if my original ones
were OEM or not.  I believe the first owner was a "tuner.")

My new springs leave my Carat at about the same height it used to be.  It
is more level now, however!  Here are my axle center to wheel arch
measurements in cm rounded to the nearest 5mm.  The gas tank is almost
full, and the ground was almost level.

                LF      RF      LR      RR
Before          35.5    38.0    39.5    39.5
After           37.0    38.0    40.0    40.0

This is not a scientific or calibrated measurement, but it is enough to
make me happy that my van is the correct Carat / Wolfsburg height.  Yes, it
does appear that the back is higher than the front when you look at the
rear wheel arches -- but that is fine with me because sometimes I hook up a
trailer.

The handling and ride are good, too.  I expected it to be much harsher than
what I had, but it wasn't.  My only guess on that one is that the
progressive rate (smaller diameter) section of the rear springs were
flattened -- even after they were removed.  Now I have a true variable rate
spring so that I am not riding on the stiff part all the time.

In summary, I am a happy customer right now.  I'll let you know how they
hold up over time.

Thanks,
Michael Townsend