Date:         Tue, 14 Nov 2000 20:57:33 -0600
Reply-To:     Rich Propsom <Rich@PROPSOM.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rich Propsom <Rich@PROPSOM.NET>
Subject:      The Spring is Sprug (Westy Springs)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Well its been a long journey this summer as the 82 Westy diesel became
reborn as a 1.8L vw gas but its been not only time consuming but also
educational.  The old saying the more you look, the more you find (wrong)
applies in my case.  Now that it is running it has become time to track
down all those smaller yet nagging issues.

Issue of the week:
Since I got it running I noticed an occasional and abnormal thump when i
would go over a very rough spot or pot hole.  It seemed to come from the
right rear usually.  After doing a little investigation last week i
realized that the right rear spring was shorter than the left.  Upon closer
examination it appears that a coil or two is missing from the bottom of the
right spring.  I guess that is why my Westy doesn't have that lean to the left.

A check at a local salvage yard came up with regular vanagon springs for
about 35 bucks a pop.  Their concern is they may be to light for the
Westy.  My question to the group is will it be that noticeable?  Granted
the Westy is the heavy weight because of the camping gear, but isn't that
somewhat offset by the smaller number of people it normally
carries.  Considering that I normally never haul more than 4 people or 2
people with gear, would the 7 passenger springs be that under sprung.  What
about the 7 passenger springs with that air bag everyone seems to be trying
out?

Looking through the archives there had been some discussion of someone
making new springs other than VW originals.  How have these faired our in
the real world and are there any of these still available?

How about any used ones?  Anyone have any usable extras laying around, for
sale?

Any opinions or suggestions appreciated

Rich Propsom
82 X diesel Westy