'..Does anyone have any recommendations for shocks with additional dampening but not added firmness? What you are really saying here is that you require shock absorbers with a greater rebound damping rate (they're really called dampers!) and a similar or lower bump rating. You should be able to get these specs from custom shock mfrs. and the more expensive adjustables used to offer independent adjustment of these two rates.

Clive Smith '88 Syncro Transporter

----- Original Message ----- From: "Ben T" <BenTbtstr8@AOL.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2002 1:33 AM Subject: Re: Getting a Handle on the Handling of the Vanagon

> Robert, > > I am disappointed to find out that you had such trouble with the H & R > springs with the KYB's. I was contemplating them since our last discussion of > the set-up. I have since had the H & R's installed in my 87 2wd Vanagon > (non-Westy). I retained the existing Boge shocks to experiment on ride. I was > intending on trying the KYB's for cost reasons. Now I don't think I will need > to. > > The ride on my H & R equipped van is quite comfortable. Bu then I do not have > the stiffer gas shocks. I did notice that the shocks require updated > dampening. I am considering adding Bilsteins to improve the dampening. The > ride is firm but compliant. I don't experience the pitching that you are > describing. Even with the stock anti-sway bar, she turns much flatter around > the corners. Perhaps I am just not pushing it as hard as you are. Or perhaps > the softer oil shocks help. I don't really know at this time. > > I will upgrade the anti-sway bar but want to resolve the dampening issue > prior to adding further complications. Rear bar will be added as well. > > Does anyone have any recommendations for shocks with additional dampening but > not added firmness? An adjustable shock would be ideal but would probably be > cost prohibitive for my project. Maybe an outboard 2nd set of shocks? > > Once this is all said and done, I will start looking at low profile tires > with stronger sidewalls. The Toyo Proxes from a Porsche are just too soft in > the sidewall area. I got them used but in very good shape. Within 2 months of > hard driving while testing my new springs. They have started to show cracking > on the sidewalls. These are VR rated tires. I have used ZR rated tires with > the stiffer sidewalls w/o any noticeable sidewall problems. Cost makes them > slightly less desirable. Does anyone make load rated 50 & 60 series tires? > > This brings me to one more point. I don't know what tires and rims Robert was > using on his van. I am using 15"X8" Porsche Fuchs are et23 front and back. I > would have liked to use 7's in front but had these handy. It is most likely > that my new track is much wider than Robert's van. For those who want to > know, the Porsche Fuchs I am using have been redrilled to Vanagon pattern. > > I will be bring this van to the September Van-O-Rama in San Francisco along > with my Syncro 16 Doka. > > BenT >