Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 08:30:38 -0700
Reply-To: gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: vanagon Digest - 16 Oct 2003 - Special issue (#2003-1013)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Jeff and Todd,
I am confused about the leaning. I am
guessing that vw could not have sold the vans if they
had a lean when they were new. I have even seen a
westy without a lean. Si I was considering buying
new springs to fix this problem. You both suggest
these new springs will not solve the problem?
Why is this? gary
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 17:11:37 EDT
From: Jeff Oxroad <Oxroad@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: springs and shocks for my 2WD Westy
In a message dated 10/16/2003 2:02:45 PM EST,
SEAN.GARRETT@ASU.EDU
writes:
<< http://www.syncro.org/springs.shtml
for 2 wd too
>>
I have the 2WD synchro.org springs in my 83.5
watercooled Westy. I've
head
them for about a year and a half. Overall I am
pleased. The ride
definately
improved with the new springs. The old springs had a
slight rear sag
and a really
bad left side westy sag. The old left side springs
when removed had
little
spring left and had compressed permanently to a point
where they most
likely
offered little if not nothing.
With the new springs the constant weeble wobbling I
felt with the old
stock
springs is gone. Also the side to side shimmy of the
entire bus when an
18-wheeler passed on the highway is all but gone. All
in all an
improved ride.
I'm not a "stunt driver" more of a "precision driver."
So I'm not
hitting
turns extremely hard and abide by exit ramp speed
limits and the like.
So I'm not
a great judge of the springs "high performance"
assets. But I will say
a good
ride and good cornering.
When I replaced the springs I also added the Agilis 61
14" tires. So
there
was improvement due to the two factors.
There is an annoying squeek since the new springs, but
that may be due
to
bushings that are dry and need replacing due to the
dry climate here
and of
course age. The squeek is only noticable at slow
speeds. And it's only
annoying
because it reminds me I have to check it out and find
the source.
I'm running old KYB shocks and would like to upgrade
to a better shock
and
possible one better suited to the Synchro.org springs.
(Donations are
currently
being accepted ;) I have never leveled the ride by
shimming the
driver's side
on the Westy and that lean makes me crazy when I look
at the bus when
it's
parked. I understand that with any spring including
OEM VW there will
be a lean.
However I don;t really notice the lean when I'm inside
driving. It may
even
be an asset here in SoCal as far as leveling the ride
since the
roadways are
often unusually high at the center line to keep
rainwater from flooding
the
streets in this place where they haven't quite figured
out the whole
storm drain
thing (one storm drain every four blocks or so).
I'd be curious as to what others experience has been
with the
Synchro.org
springs, especially the 2WD. ( I think a lot has been
written about the
4WD).
Best
Jeff
83.5 Westy
LA,CA
------------------------------
From: Todd Last <rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: springs and shocks for my 2WD Westy
I have a set of the Syncro.org springs on my 2wd
Westy.
I also shimmed both the front and rear spings on the
left to level the
van.
(A trip to the local tap plastics with a drawing of
what I wanted
yeiled perfect plastic shims)
I originally had KYB shocks which were upgraded to
Bilstein - great
improvement and I'm never turing back.
Handling is good, the van handles crosswinds better.
It sitts a little
taller (I often get the question - Is that a Syncro?)
I'm running
Michelin 205/75x14 tires on alloy rims. These are a
hard compound (high
mileage) tire so there is some loss of conering moxie
because of that.
Overall I'm quite happy with the springs and would buy
them again.
I had to shim my van because the lean was driving me
crazy - even if it
was something only I noticed.
It was easy to do in back, a little more involved in
the front.
I have some photos of the springs and install if
anyone is interested.
regards,
Todd
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