Date:         Thu, 5 Sep 2002 08:38:51 -0400
Reply-To:     Gary Stearns <gstearns@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gary Stearns <gstearns@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Increasing stability beyond the tires for windy days and
              winding mountain roads.
Comments: To: "Bergin, Richard" <bergin@MARSHALL.USC.EDU>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

We're running 15" Agilis tires and a rear stabilizer bar.  They both helped
some.  I'm also playing around with stiffer bushings holding the steering
rack.  If you hold one of these bushings in your hand (even a new one) they
are very soft; easliy squeezed with finger pressure. Makes for a nice quiet
ride, but the rack does move around a lot.   I made some stiffer
polyurethane bushings by buying a set of the poly anti-roll bar end links at
Autozone, then turning them down to the right size.

So far, MUCH better road feel, steering response etc.  The wind doesn't push
me around at all any longer.  The jury is still out though, I've only had
these installed for a week.  I'm not declaring this a success just yet.  For
those that would like specifics of how I made these, pls p-mail me.

Gary

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bergin, Richard" <bergin@MARSHALL.USC.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2002 5:33 PM
Subject: Increasing stability beyond the tires for windy days and winding
mountain roads.


> 1. Does anybody have or  know of a vanagon that has installed a set of
high performance springs from BusDepot.
> I am told they lower the van 1.5".  I am concerned that the ride may
become very stiff and the benefit may be very limited.
>
> 2. Any thoughts on front of rear stabilizer bars that may help out?
>
> PS: I am currently running 205 55's on 16" rims, all suspension parts have
been replaced with new "front and rear" except the springs as I am told
factory springs are not available.
>
>
> Thank you