Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 11:34:55 -0700
Reply-To: gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: springs and shocks for my 2WD Westy)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
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I too will need springs and shocks.
I have found that busdepot is my preferred vendor on
many things but I am not sure about the springs. I
have heard negative feedback about these springs.
There is a custom spring service that will make oem
springs that the vanagon group has used in the past.
I would prefer to go with busdepot but I would like
some satisfied busdepot spring customers to spring
into action and give us their feedback. thanks gary
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 04:17:33 -0000
From: "longrider_650" <longrider650@hotmail.com>
Subject: springs and shocks for my 2WD Westy
Would someone point me to where I can purchase NEW
SPRINGS and Shocks
I'm wanting 4 of each. Thank you.
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Message: 4
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 09:19:12 -0400
From: "The Bus Depot" <ron@busdepot.com>
Subject: RE: springs and shocks for my 2WD Westy
> Would someone point me to where I can purchase NEW
SPRINGS and Shocks
> I'm wanting 4 of each. Thank you.
We have both springs and shocks for 2WD Vanagons and
Westies.
Our performance springs are $361 for a set of four,
including
listmember
discount, which is less than VW charges for a single
spring. They lower
the vehicle slightly (by about 50mm), bringng it
closer in height to a
later model Wolfsburg. (This does not make your
Vanagon into a
"curb-hugger" as some other Vanagon lowered springs
do, but does give
it
a slightly squatter, more aggressive stance, which I
think looks very
sharp). I have found that they greatly reduce (but do
not always
completely eliminate) the infamous Westy "kitchen
lean" where the van
sits slightly lower on the left than on the right. A
"spring helper" in
the left rear solved this when I put these springs in
my van, but even
without it the lean was extremely minor (and much
improved) with the
new
springs. Since these springs are a mild performance
spring, they are
also a bit stiffer than stock. This means that they
will reduce wind
buffeting slightly, improve cornering, and reduce
front end dip when
braking hard. The improvements are definitely
noticable. However, as
with any performance spring, this will also make the
ride a bit harder;
not "bone jarring" but a bit more taut. I have not
found this
difference
to be significant or even particularly noticable on
typical road
surfaces, but it's definitely noticable when you hit a
severe bump or
pothole.
Because of this tendancy, I would tend to avoid
matching them to a
shock
that has similar characteristics, such as the KYB, but
instead use a
slightly softer shock. This would slightly offset,
rather than
exaggerate, the springs' firmer ride. Your best bet
would probably be
the European made Al-ko's, which are an excellent
shock for the price,
not too hard yet well controlled. The Bilsteins are
also worth
considering (excellent performers, but twice the price
of the Al-ko's
and a bit firmer).
Links:
Springs:
http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=9878
Shocks:
http://busdepot.com/view.jsp?model=43&category=38&group=-1&prodgroup=-1
- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com
(215) 234-VWVW
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