Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 22:21:22 -0700
Reply-To: Steve Schwenk <steve@syncro.org>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steve Schwenk <steve@syncro.org>
Subject: Re: Fw: 2 WD Vanagon Westfalia Coil Springs
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
These springs are going to give 1/4" - 1/2" more height
than your 85 springs, and a little stiffer for a firm
ride and better cornering and better wind handling.
The air bags will not raise ride height at all. 0".
Here's feedback on the syncro springs and the
improvements they made:
----- Original Message -----
> From: <MRY_MCHN-87Syncro@excite.com>
> To: <Syncro@egroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2000 10:31 PM
> Subject: [Syncro] OME shocks & Custom Betts Springs
>
> > Picking up where my last post left off. The trip to Baja was finally
> > my opportunity to test out Steve's latest run of springs + new OME
> > shocks off the pavement. With the new springs + shocks installed my
> > clearance is generally 19.25" (+/- 0.175") from the bottom of the
> > fender to the centerline of the wheel. This clearance coupled with a
> > new set of BFG 27.5 x 8.5's make for a very pleasing combo. Empty
> > the van handles very well at all speeds, holds corners tight and
> > feels mildly stiff. Our camping & surfing/kyack compliment + gear +
> > gas cans probably increases our "loaded" weight by 400 to 600 lbs.
> > With this added weight the van handles dreamy. Potholes, rough
> > roads, washboards, dips and the like are traversed with easy and
> > comfort. I even nailed a couple of "hold on's", the springs are
> > dampeded beautifully and we were surprised to barely feel those
> > hits. A highly recommended combo!!
> >
> > P.S. Kudos to Steve...thanks so much!!!
_________________
Hi, Steve. Glad you enjoyed the "New Customers" I
found. Makes kissing
ass
enjoyable!
The springs are perfect. I wanted to drive them for a
while before I
gave
some feedback and I have about 1000 miles on them now.
Just measured
again
RF 19 3/8, RR 19 3/8, LF 19 1/4, LR 19 1/4. Water tank
is about 3/4 full.
What do you think? ...not to shabby eah. I ordered the
air springs from
Peter and I am thinking these will help when the Syncro
is at expedition
weight.
___________________
Steve
the springs are probably the best rate you could ever
come up with....... the van doesnt seem that tall...
in fact its still lower than my old 14..... id like to
know what spring were on there, but ive sold it now.
The damping is a lot stiffer on the 16 so it doesnt
seem to roll at all and the van seems totally level.
Its difficult to get a cmparison to my wheel arches
beacuse ive got the plastic bitsbut when i jack the
front up ive got about 3.5 inches of travel before the
wheels take off....... how does this compare with
yours. Anyway say hi to your family
_______
ubject:
[Syncro] Betts springs/OME shocks: Initial
report
Date:
Fri, 27 Oct 2000 20:26:22 -0000
From:
zippledippledoo@yahoo.com
To:
Syncro@egroups.com
Let me get right to it: I installed a full set
(front/rear)of the
latest group purchase Betts springs onto "Fritz", my
1986 Syncro
Westy, along with a full set of Old Man Emu shocks and
a variety of
ball joints and other assorted suspensions pieces, and
I AM A VERY
HAPPY MAN! Thanks Steve and to all others that helped
develop these
springs. The van, empty, rides perfectly, and I am
very particular
with the way my vehicles ride. I have installed a few
sets of
aftermarket springs in my time on other vehicles and
I've always
been bummed that the result was simply too stiff to
enjoy on other
than an autocross course. Fritz handles the road a bit
more like an
M3 BMW now (really!!), and off road the ride is fine.
My van was
raised over an inch. I put spacers on top of the
rubber that fits
onto the top of each left hand spring (front and rear),
front spacer
was 1/8" and rear was 1/4". Van is almost level now,
but just a tiny
bit left leaning still (physically, not politically).
For the
record,
before the project: L/F 18&1/32", L/R 18&3/32", R/F
18&7/32", R/R
18&6/32". After Betts springs and the two spacer: L/F
19&7/8", L/R
19&13/16", R/F 20&3/16", R/R 19&14/16". These latest
hieghts were
only 50 miles after installation, so I can expect a
tiny bit of
settling (of rubber and replaced suspension joints and
the like)
after
driving some more.
I have about 800 miles on the van at this point, and
while I would
prefer to get more mileage on in order to give a 100%
complete
report, I can say at this point I am extremely pleased,
and I expect
to remain so. I honestly could not be any happier. The
van rides
slightly stiffer, exactly what you would expect from a
7% increase in
stiffness, but the pitching forward/backwards is
markedly reduced, as
is the "transition time" to do a quick left/right
turn. It does not
pound the occupants over sharp, deep potholes (or
rippled pavement)
and the ride is 100% acceptable in all conditions
encountered thus
far. I have gone out of my way to drive through
fields, dirt roads,
crappy pavement and so on. I was very worried that the
ride on
washboard surfaces would hammer the van, but it turns
out my fears
were unfounded. Steve really did his homework. Of
course some of the
credit must go to the new Old Man Emu shocks, so it is
difficult for
me to separate one mod from the other. Regardless, the
van is a
delight to drive now and as a car enthusiast (and
sports car) I
really
like it. I would not hesitate to recommemnd this
combination to
anyone. Oh yes, all my commments are based on an EMPTY
van, so
naturally it will only ride softer/more comfy with a
load. I was
most
worried about the ride when it is empty, especially in
the rear,
seeing as the new rear springs are not quite as
"progressive" as
before. The "thud" heard when crossing expansion
joints and the like
is slightly (only slightly) louder, but the difference
is not nearly
as pronounced as the difference between tires (my
Michelin LTX M/S
195/75 14 tires really increased this noise and the
springs/shocks
only added a little bit more).
I have to get off this computer, but I wanted to give
the list my
impressions of the new Betts springs as soon as I
could. Again, a
hearty thanks to Steve. As an ex-Aero engineer/project
manager/etc.,
and all around car nut, I can really appreciate what he
must have
gone
through to bring this project to fruition. Way to go
Steve!
CHRIS STANN wrote:
>
> > If Sadie's arse is draggin' and she's listing to port (assuming you don't
> > have a great big butt), Give Steve a bit of support on this group purchase
> > deal.
> >
> > If there's not enough interest, the project goes away.
>
> I wish I could! With the price a little on the high side for my budget, a
> set of Air Lifts for about $80 makes a lot more sense to me right now.
> Besides, my '85 sits higher than the newer models, so how do I know the new
> springs won't be too short?
>
> Chris,
>
> '85 Westy.
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