Date: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 12:35:46 -0700
Reply-To: steve@SYNCRO.ORG
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steve Schwenk <steve@SYNCRO.ORG>
Subject: Re: Getting a Handle on the Handling of the Vanagon
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Robert, thanks for sharing the info on your handling
improvement project. Any chance you can share the info
on the sway bars such as where to get them and cost.
On the springs, you may not be aware that i now have
custom 2wd vanagon springs available. They seem to be
exactly what you are looking for except that they do
not lower the van. Instead, they are based on the
taller stock vanagon springs with a slightly stiffer
and more progressive rate. From the feedback i have
received to date, and based on my testing, they
certainly improve handling over stock springs even
though they are not lower, and they are not harsh at
all. Todd Last went from the H&R springs to these and
was very happy with the result. The only draw back is
that they are designed for a westy and may be taller
than your preferences for a non-westy. What is your
current ride height measuring from axle center to
fender? If the numbers are not too far off, it might
be worth trying them. I would be happy to provide a
test set.
On an unrelated note, any idea why 1.25 rockers might
cause increased oil consumption (immediate...not after
prolonged use). I have incorporated many of your mods
into my new engine and am very happy with the outcome
except for the oil consumption issue.
Take care.
Steve
__________________________________________________
Robert Lilley wrote:
I have a 1988 Wolfsburg Weekender Vanagon.
It had the factory lowered suspension.
I put the KYB shocks on.
When I went into a curve, the van would lean. If I
did not slow down, It
felt like it would turn over.
I wanted to improve the handling, not so much to take
corners fast but to
keep from feeling like I was going to flip over and
provide better handling
in emergency situations.
Another problem was that when I had a passenger in the
front seat and I made
a turn, the van was slow to straighten up after the
turn. This happened more
at slow speeds when coming off a curb turning or sharp
90 degree turns.
I was trying to decide on which way to attack the
problem:
Springs or sway bar front then add a rear bar or all.
Well, I decided to go with springs the H & R lowering
springs.
I kept the stock sway bar.
The ride was firmer, I was OK with the ride but my
wife did not like the
harder ride, on rough roads it was a bit harsh.
It lowered the van about an inch in the front and
several in the rear. The
ground clearance did not change for the front spoiler
because the forward
tilt of the van was reduced to an even level.
On thing that I missed with the springs was that I
could not get under the
rear as easy due to the reduced height.
I like the handling improvement. I could take all but
sharp curves without
slowing down and not feeling like I was going to flip.
Well, my wife gave me an ultimatum:
Change the springs or sell the van because she would
never ride in it again.
I decided to change the springs back to stock (from
another GL 88, I had
already sold my springs). My wife was also pregnant
with our first child and
I realized it would be too rough a ride for my infant
(when he gets older I
might put some back in....)
Another reason was that the straightening problem did
not go away with the
new springs. I would try the larger sway bar to see
its effect.
I rebuilt the front suspension and added a 1" front
sway bar. I also ordered
the rear but did not install it.
With only the bigger front sway bar (I installed
greaseable urethane
bushings) I went for a test drive, the back end felt
loose in curves. It
felt unbalanced.
I then put the rear bar on. It brought the rear end
under control.
Conclusion:
Want to improve the handling and do not want a lower
ride, then add front and
rear sway bars.
If you want to lower your van from the taller springs
and do not want the
stiffer ride (campers...) then go with the 88 up
springs,
With the larger matching 1" front and 7/8"rear bar,
the handling will be much
better than the ride with the stock front sway bar and
a bigger front only
bar, Plus the ride is not harsh but as smooth as
stock.
The only combination I have not tested is the sway
bars with the Bus Depot
Boge suspension spring set (MAYBE Ron would sell me a
set cheaply to test and
in exchange, report to the list on the combination
with the sway bars Front
only then both, with different rims and tire combos).
If you want the lower lowered look and do not have a
loaded camper get the H &
R AND add front and rear sway bars.
IF you want a test ride, I am in North Carolina and am
trying to persuade my
wife to go to the High County Bus Festival and I will
be at Manassas, VA in
Sept for the Bug show (Boston Bob want to have the
show down at the show?
Have not heard from you) Plus I can meet you if its is
not too far...
Robert
