Date:         Sun, 21 Mar 2004 23:38:59 -0500
Reply-To:     Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Steele <steeles@HORIZONVIEW.NET>
Subject:      Re: saggy westfalia butt
Comments: To: Jeff Palmer <icecoldvw@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY7-DAV38ftKXOxxpf0004ff74@hotmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Jeff, et al:
While I agree with all that Don in PHX has posted regarding springs and
shocks, new shocks did not heal the sag in my 87 Westy (it sagged exactly as
you described).

The following is a post that was forwarded from M. Wagner a year or so ago
when I made the same request as yours. I followed his instructions last
summer and the van now sits level and I've experienced no adverse effects in
ride, bounce or shock absorption.
HTH
> Here's what I did to correct the problem and it worked pretty well (and cost
> very little).
> First, I raised the van off the ground, removed the rear tires and
> disconnected the bottom end of the shocks, and removed the coil springs and
> the upper donuts.  Next, using the donut as a pattern, I cut out additional
> donuts from plastic cutting boards I bought at a kitchen supply store (Like
> Lecters).  (I cut these using a skill saw).
>
> I then put the original donut and three additional donuts back onto each side
> of the van and put the springs back and put everything together.  I had to
> rent a coil spring compresser to get the springs compressed enough to get
> them back into postion, then took it off which let it expand.
>
> This raised the back of the van back to a level position.  Now, I could have
> changed out the springs with new ones, but they were quite expensive, and the
> fix I described worked quite well and hasn't changed the handling negatively
> at all.  Hope this helps.
> M. Wagner
FWIW, I only needed to use two of the "doughnuts" on each side.  I also used
a 4' 2"x4" and an 8"x8" block as a fulcrum instead of using a spring
compressor.
Stephen Steele
Chillicothe OH

'87 Westy      "Franz"
'84 Westfalia  "Fritz"  Son #2 is trying to sell his 68 Karmaan Ghia so he
                        can buy this wonderful Westy!!!
'82 Caddy VW Diesel P.U.     Unknown future????
'74 MGB  My first car...yep, I've kept it since '74
'93 Chevy S-10
'91 Jetta Diesel   My daily driver
'02 Jetta Wagon VR6  Wife's car
Ex Vans:
'91 Caravelle  "Hans"...1995-2003  Now with Son #1
'81 Vanagon  from 1985-1990