Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 15:47:57 EDT
Reply-To: Oxroad@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeffrey R <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject: Questions about Vanagon springs
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Having just installed the Syncro.org springs in my 83.5 Westfalia I have a
few questions.
1. Why do they sag on the driver's side and is this a bad omen for the
future? (I understand there is more weight on the drivers side--but my
thought is a stronger spring would compensate-- I have a limited
understanding of the situation and my guess is it's not that simple. Stronger
spring must equal harder rider--right?) So...
2. Then, as a follow up question about extra weight on one side: Do all
vehicles sag on the driver's side, say if there's only the driver in the
vehicle. Or do the springs and suspension compensate an keep the vehicle
level?
3. Would or did the stock Vanagon with the Westfalia full-camper package lean
a 1/2 inch to the driver's side when it came off the lot? And if it didn't
lean, if New stock VW springs were installed in my Westfalia would it sit
level. (and then again would it still be level with only a driver in the bus?
And if it did sit level how long before it didn't? My sagged when I bought it
5 years ago. But I don;t know when the sag sarted.)
4. What is the cost of stock springs from the VW dealer and what would be the
cost with a list discount offered by heros like Rennie at Peyton Cramer VW in
Torrance?
In short, my bus is about 20 years old and the springs never performed great
as far as crosswinds and passing 18-wheelers and the like. The 5 years or so
I've had it it always swayed from side to side quite a bit in wind, when
turning, and even when stopped in traffic to make a left turn while car
whizzed by on the right- back and forth with each car that passed. It sagged
to the left since I owned it and the sag got worse in that time. The rear
started to sit down and sag a bit more noticabley over the last year. When I
removed the original springs in the rear the thinner part of the spring at
the top and the bottom were clearly completely useless as they were collapsed
down to the thicker spring (the original VW coil springs have a variable
thickness, I assume for some ride comfort benefits and the obvious deficit of
collapsing.)
I've only had the Sycro Org spring in for a few days. So I'm drawing my
conclusions and questions with limited use--and really not conclusions at
this time but questions. And this is not to say it's a negative conclusion.
I'm just hashing out some thoughts.
The bus definately corners more upright and changes lanes better on the
highway and definately doesn't react with the same sway as the old springs
when an 18 wheeler passes and the like. It seems to take side winds better
and tracks straighter. (I just installed Agilis 61)
The rises and falls in the highway seem to hit the driver harder on the
driver's butt at about 60MPH--i.e. when the pavement meets a bridge's
concrete. But these may be (relatively) extreme pavement height differences
as I was driving at night I couldn't accurately see the upcoming bumps in the
roadway--and maybe the CA freeways (the 101 between Ventura and LA) have
reacted to the heat with inordinant swelling.
I'm running 2 year old KYB G3's on the front which probably isn't my best
choice, under any conditions, and especially with the new sycro.org springs.
Would Bilstein's soften up the bumps a bit or the opposite? ( I have the
other KYBs--the white one's I can't recall the model--on the rear.)
Thanks,
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA
