Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 21:25:29 -0800
Reply-To: developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Subject: Re: Swithcing springs to correct sway to the left on a camper
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Well, Stan,
I'm going to work on the back springs first. Once archive posting said that
if you raised the left rear the right front would drop a bit. We shall see.
I'll try that rotating the spring 180 degrees to see if that makes a
difference. Then the home made shim.
For the front I am first going to use those spring spacers at FLAPS. I know
some say it is a cheap fix and will ruin the springs but I have used them
before on my old Mercedes with no problem. Besides one day I will replace
the springs anyhow with those that Steve sells.
I measured from the ground to the fender at the top of the wheel well and I
am one inch shorter on the left. I guess it is better to measure from the
fender to the middle of the wheel cap as someone said in case tire pressure
was not the same.
I'll let you all know the results when I decide to tackle the project.
William Polowniak
1989 Vanagon GL
1988 Mercedes 300 SE
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stan Wilder" <wilden1@juno.com>
To: <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 9:05 PM
Subject: Re: Swithcing springs to correct sway to the left on a camper
> Boy I'm going to sound old with this one.
> Back in the 60s I worked for a GM dealer and we all know their cars
> weren't really great back then.
> The short version.
> We often rotated springs in both the front and rear to compensate for
> droop. The turning of the spring in the seat pockets actually made a
> difference.
> With MG midgets, MGs, Triumphs you just buy new springs because I think
> Lucas manufactured them since they all drop within a few years and the
> hammering self destructs your frame, spindles etc.
> So you might just give them a turn and see if it helps but ten years of
> leaning heavy on one side may require shims or possibly new springs.
> I considered swaping mine left to right on both the front and rear but I
> ran out of beer.
> Make a stick with your current height marked and make your changes, I'd
> like know if the stick gets longer or shorter.
>
> Stan Wilder
>
> On Wed, 9 Jan 2002 20:20:38 -0800 developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
> writes:
> > After my trip to the VW graveyard to find stock spring seats I found
> > them
> > not even taken off the vehicle yet AND they were only about 1/8 inch
> > thick
> > anyway. An unproductive journey.
> >
> > I wondered on the way home if anyone has ever switched springs on
> > the back
> > from left to right and visa versa to correct for the sway to the
> > left?
> >
> > Because the front springs are so much more work, new springs seem
> > like a
> > better idea there, or using a 1/2 inch plastic kitchen cutting board
> > to make
> > a custom made leveling shim for the front left as one archive post
> > suggested
> > (For front 5 & 3/8 diameter with 3 & 1/2 hole in the center.) I
> > found
> > archive measurements for the back shim also made from a 1/2 inch
> > plastic
> > kitchen cutting board (6 and 1/4 inch diameter and 1 & 3/4 inch
> > center
> > hole.)
> >
> > Has anyone on this list ever switched springs on the rear to correct
> > for the
> > sway?
> >
> > William Polowniak
> > 1989 Vanagon GL
> > 1988 Mercedes 300 SE
> >
> ________________________________________________________________
> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:
> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
>