Date:         Sat, 8 May 2004 11:01:36 -0400
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Lowering '85 Westfalia
Comments: cc: george reynolds <jack8trop@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY9-F23kpLTkUD5euw00013995@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> List,  Please . . . want to lower a couple of inches . .


I carry a European made set of lowered springs that roughly lower the
van to Wolfsburg height, for about $350 for the set of 4 with list
member discount. They are a "performance" spring so they will make the
ride a bit harder than the stock springs (but will also improve
cornering and reduce nose-dive when braking). However, they are neither
as stiff nor as lowered as the H&R springs, so they're somewhat of a
middle ground between a strictly-performance-based, "curb-hugging"
spring and the stock springs.

I have a set on my '89 Westy and am generally happy with them. Pot-holes
and big bumps in the road are definitely more noticable than with the
stock springs, although the more typical small to medium surface changes
and bumps in the road don't seem to feel much different. I find the
improved performance and "squatter stance" of the van to be worth this
trade-off.  I am using them with Boge shocks. I probably would not match
them with a firm shock like a KYB as this combination could be a bit
harsh. The Alko shocks would probably be the best combination in my
opinion, followed by the Boge. I have not tried them with Bilsteins. I
have also found them to significantly reduce, but not completely
eliminate, the Westy "kitchen lean" that causes many Westies to sit
lower on the left side due to the weight of the cabinetry (and the
driver :-). These springs fit all Vanagons except Syncros.

There have been several user reviews of these springs on the Vanagon
list in the past, which can be found in the archives.

Link to the springs:

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=9878

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215)  234-VWVW

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