Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2002 22:27:43 -0800
Reply-To: Steve Schwenk <steve@SYNCRO.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steve Schwenk <steve@SYNCRO.ORG>
Subject: Re: [Syncro] About VAG Alloy Rear Spring Seats For 16" Models
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
It looks like they intended to raise the rear ride
height 1/4-1/2" maybe and beef up the spring seat.
Could it be that the longer trailing arm results in a
lower sitting rear end due to the change in geometry it
introduces? And they compensate with these? Or would
that raise the rear end, too?
Is the rubber cap that fits over the front spring the
same part number as for the 14"? If not, it may also
introduce some lift up front to level it with the
taller rears.
Or, did they want the rear end higher than the front
end on an empty van so it would level with a load?
Doubtful.
let us know what you find out. FWIW i am using a 3/8"
piece of very hard plastic as a spring seat on the left
side (to compensate for the westy lift). The old
plastic seats do not work great with the custom
springs. The hard plastic has done a much better job.
Aluminum would be even better i bet. But i think they
custom springs might not work with these plates. they
are complex little plates for what they do because they
have to have that recess for the tapered pig tail on
the stock springs to keep it from rattling/moving
around. The custom springs do not have that problem
and do not need any recess so long as they are mounted
right. So maybe a 1/8" piece of aluminum would be the
best spring seat for the custom springs.
steve
Derek Drew wrote:
>
> OK Ok I can't stand reading these posts any more...
>
> Yes there are indeed special factory spring seats for the base of the rear
> spring. These are factory VAG parts, and as far as I can tell, they have
> never been discussed in North America or on this list. I've had my set for
> about six months now.
>
> Previously, we all assumed that the 16" model and 14" model had the exact
> same height, but because of these 16" spring bases, the fact is the 16"
> vehicle sits slightly higher (weight being otherwise equal).
>
> These spring seats are for the 16" model only and instead of plastic are
> made of a special metal / alloy.
>
> I will make an announcement to the list about these in about a month or so
> and distribute them to all interested parties, but in the meantime to see
> what the special 16" alloy spring seats look like, go here to my pic:
>
> http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/vanagon/images/16springseats.JPG
>
> (Yes, that's my back yard and garage in the background).
>
> In addition William, if you were to dig deep enough into the archives, you
> will see that many of us have raised our vehicles in the rear simply by
> buying and installing extra "doughnuts"--the rubber round rings that sit
> over the rear springs. The vehicle comes with just one up there, but I
> bought another 3 per side for a total of four, and have been driving around
> that way for 10 years with no mishaps or regrets.
>
> The metal spring seats in the picture I post up above in this email
> probably provide a little bit less lift than the rubber doughnuts. But for
> some reason just looking at them inspires a great deal more confidence than
> looking and the flimsy plastic seat bases on our North American vehicles.
>
> When you are thinking of shimming your springs, think of putting material
> over them just as well as under them.
>
> Why did VW make a special 16" spring perch out of metal? The answer is not
> yet apparent but as usual somebody on the list or me will figure it out
> over time and report.
>
> I like the little extra lift that perch gives and the extra confidence it
> inspires, but the full story is not yet on what other benefits they may
> have or why they were introduced.
>
> At 08:20 PM 1/9/2002 -0800, you wrote:
> >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
>
> ________________________________________________________
> Derek Drew New York, NY & Washington, DC
> derekdrew@rcn.com 212-580-6486
> Email me for viscous couplings
> '90 Syncro Westfalia...
> ...seen off-road at
> http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/Syncro_Madness_Area.htm
> Note: most valuable Vanagon sites on the planet (for owners) are:
> http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?S1=vanagon
> http://gerry.vanagon.com/files/
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro
> http://www.vanagon.com
> http://www.syncro.org
> My syncro list postings consolidated
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/messagesearch?query=212-580-6486
> My refrigerator article:
> http://www.vanagon.com/info/articles/Refrigerator/Reefer_Madness.htm
> My article that shows how to deal with insurance companies:
> http://gerry.vanagon.com/files/auto-insurance-madness.html
> To view Wolfgang's incredibly informative wheel article
> http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/fitbigtiresonvanagon.htm
> To view Tim Smith's incredibly useful gearing calculator
> http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/syncrotireandgearratios.xls
> To view two articles about how to think about improving your gears at
> transmission rebuild time
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/7207
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/7221
> To view some 16" Trailing Arms that enable much larger tires see
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/syncro-org/files/Wheels%2C%20Tires%20%26%20Gearing/Wheel%20%26%20Tire%20Photos/16_Inch_Trailing_Arm.jpg
> To view the only perfect 16" rim for T3 Vanagon Syncro see
> http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/vanagon/images/perfectwheel16s.jpg
> http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/vanagon/images/perfect16wheel.jpg
> SYNCRO OWNERS WHO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD:
> You only get to change your ring and pinions once every 10 or 20 years
> because that's how long the average syncro transmission goes before
> its next rebuild. Start planning for higher number ring and pinion
> sets NOW!
>
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>
>
>
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