Date:         Fri, 11 Jan 2002 16:32:44 -0800
Reply-To:     developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Leveling shims. Success report and mistakes to avoid.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Well folks,
I just finished installing the leveling shims on the left side of my 1989
vanagon. Like someone said it was as easy as falling off a log.

Someone else told me that shim thickness was not a one to one relationship
to how much the van would level out. Of course the skeptic in me thought
that two 3/8 inch shims and two 1/8 inch rubber shims on either side would
raise me the full one inch I needed-- WRONG. I was 3/4 inch too high so I
had to take the whole thing apart again. I removed one of the 3/8 inch
Teflon shims and left two 1/8 inch rubber shims with the 3/8 inch Teflon
ship (a full 5/8 inches.) Reassembled and put the wheel back on and measured
again. Perfectly level measuring from the fender at the top of the wheel
well to the center of the wheel cap is 17 inches on both sides. The front
leveled out also with only a 1/8 inch sway to the left on the driver's
wheel. Perhaps it will level even more when I re-inflate my Air Lift
suspension balloons which I deflated in order to get the spring out and the
shims installed.

To install the shims I just removed the bottom bolt from the shock absorber
and took out the spring. I put my leveling shims above and put the spring
back in place. I had to use a 2 by 4 as a lever to get the spring off and to
raise the wheel assembly enough to reattach the shock absorber. Simple.

William Polowniak
1989 Vanagon GL
1988 Mercedes 300 SE