Date:         Wed, 22 Sep 2004 09:09:55 +0200
Reply-To:     Calle Fallberg <calle.fallberg@TELIA.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Calle Fallberg <calle.fallberg@TELIA.COM>
Subject:      Re: poor cornering - too much sway (tire update)
Comments: To: wlail@OU.EDU
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

Well, if the body will tilt enough to cut the tyres you donīt have to worry
too much about weak wheelwalls, the major problem has to be in the
suspension - if you donīt do corners like if it was for a Indy 500 victory
:-) ! !
Just tougher swaybar bushings do not seem to be the cure here, take a look
to see if the bar is attached at all places !
Then check the shocks for damage, this will often show as oil on the piston
. Also check the coils for breaks !
Do the check in all four corners, a loose front end is many times the result
of rear shocks with damaged rebound damping !
The shocks are best to buy new since there is a limited lifespan on them,
you could buy "low quality" cheap but then you probably end up replacing
them again in a year or so,  so if youīre going to keep the Vgon go for the
good stuff !
But if you need to change the coils, take a look at the wreckyards, you
might even find a Vanagon "Carat" suspension which will lower the bus about
an inch !

Calle

Btw, you havenīt got a load of timber up on the roofrack so that is the
problem here ????



----- Original Message -----
From: "Warren Lail" <wlail@OU.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 1:17 AM
Subject: poor cornering - too much sway (tire update)


> Hi all,
>
> Thanks for all of the feedback regarding Billy Bones' tendency to sway too
> much when cornering.
> I failed to mention my tire situation.  I am running Firestone Firehawk
> Indy 500 215/70/15 M+S tires.
> I had these same tires and wheels on Long John while Billy Bones was in
> dry dock and Long John
> seemed to corner just fine.  I'm not sure whether these tires are truck
> tires or not.  How do I find out?
>
> To make things worse, when Billy dips to the side, as when turning into a
> driveway, etc., his fender
> dips down and cuts the tread on the outside of the tires.  Not good.  This
> is almost always limited to
> the driver's side, possibly because of my weight as an added factor (160
> pounds).
>
> New springs are EXPensive!  Hope bushings would help before I have to go
> the springs route.
>
> Warren
> 88 Westy "Billy Bones"
>