Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2002 11:04:04 -0800
Reply-To: developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Subject: Re: New springs on my 1989 Vanagon with shims for the lefty
camper sway
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I really do not know anything about sway bars and I'm discovering every day
how little I still know about Vanagons but my ride is MUCH better on turns.
I still sway a little and I guess that is only normal around turns but not
nearly as much as before. The best feature is the added height up front. The
new upper ball joints makes for tighter steering and a tighter ride also.
Both my ball joint boots were ruptured. The ride is also quiet with less
squeaks and rattles.
To compensate for the camper weight on the left I shimmed the driver front
with 1/4 inch of rubber shims (and the rear with 3/4 inch.) The rear is easy
to take away or add a shim but the front cost me $360 in labor as I don't
have the tools or skill or inclination to do that job.
If I had to do it over again I'd put another 1/8 or 1/4 for not more than
1/2 inch of shims on the front. If I redo my shocks one day and the new
shims don't settle or correct with time I intend to add another 1/4 inch up
front. BY THE WAY EVERYONE, the front shims must be rubber because there is
no flat surface and they must conform to the springs for best results. A
hard polyethylene shim like one 3/8 inch shim used on the top rear spring
would not be ideal for front shims.
William Polowniak
1989 Vanagon GL
1988 Mercedes 300 SE
Subject: Re: New springs on my 1989 Vanagon with shims for the lefty camper
sway
> Could you say that this is a better solution to reduce
> sway than to add front and rear sway bars? I would
> much rather do this if it REALLY reduced swaying, and
> from reading Developtrust's posts it seams to be so.
>
>
> Phil,
> 84' "Westy Millenium Falcon"
>
>
>
> --- developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM> wrote:
> > Just a progress report on the completion of
> > installing my new springs that
> > steve@syncro.com makes. I am thoroughly delighted
> > with the results. My
> > vanagon now drives like a new vehicle. An added
> > bonus is no more squeaks &
> > rattles up front. Some improvement due to new upper
> > ball joints to be sure
> > but some also due to replacing old springs with 13
> > years of metal fatigue.
> >
> > I encourage anyone upgrading their vanagons to
> > contact Steve to reserve a
> > set of springs from his next production run. The VW
> > dealer wants $626 for
> > stock springs and Steve's springs are $400 and
> > better in my opinion.
> >
> > The cornering of the vehicle with the new springs is
> > remarkably sweet (much
> > less sway around corners.) The ride is smooth and
> > drives like a new vehicle.
> > All wheels now measure 17 & 1/4 inches from the
> > fender to the center of the
> > wheel cap. Formerly my front measurements were about
> > 16 & 1/2 inches on the
> > right and 15 & 7/8 on the driver side. Rear
> > measurements were 17 on the
> > right and about 16 & 1/2 on the driver side.
> >
> > I received a lot of very useful information from
> > Steve about the springs and
> > he may have saved me from making a big costly
> > mistake as he recommended to
> > not go more than 1/4 inch for the front driver side
> > shim. I was tempted to
> > add 1/2 inch of shims up front but he said it was
> > not a one to one
> > relationship. If not for his encouragement and
> > patient advice I would never
> > have installed the springs. Thank you Steve.
> >
> > I had my VW dealer install the front springs and the
> > two upper ball joints
> > which had ruptured boots. I installed the rear
> > springs today myself (a piece
> > of cake.) I had the dealer put 1/4 inches of rubber
> > shim material up top of
> > the driver side spring to compensate for my camper
> > equipment and my body
> > weight since I am usually without a passenger. I put
> > an extra 1/8 inch
> > rubber shim on both rear springs up top of the
> > rubber spring seat because
> > Steve's springs are flatter and do not sit inside
> > the formed rubber seat the
> > way the factory springs mould to the spring seat. On
> > the left rear spring
> > (driver side) I added 5/8 extra shim material to
> > compensate for the camper
> > equipment and lefty sway (one 3/8 inch polyethylene
> > shim made from a kitchen
> > cutting board, and three 1/8 inch rubber shims for a
> > total of 3/4 inches.)
> >
> > I also left my Air Lift air bag system inside the
> > new rear springs in place
> > but under inflated to 10 psi instead of suggested
> > manufacturer's recommended
> > 25 psi. this way if I have a large load in the
> > future I can just pump up the
> > psi to 25 when needed.
> >
> > I discovered another interesting fact when measuring
> > the fronts. Exiting the
> > driver side my first measurement was 17" and the
> > passenger side was about 17
> > & 3/8" which gave me some concern. I did not
> > consider that my 225 pounds of
> > body weight on the left might give me a false
> > reading. I next exited the
> > passenger side to redistribute weight. Measured
> > again and both wheels
> > measured at 17 & 1/4" fender to center of wheel cap.
> > Without a passenger one
> > will get a false measurement if you are looking for
> > accuracy.
> >
> > I hope anyone considering replacing your old worn
> > out springs will find this
> > information useful. Contact me about rear spring
> > replacement if you ever
> > need assistance or advice.
> >
> > William Polowniak
> > 1989 Vanagon GL
> > 1988 Mercedes 300 SE
>
>
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