Date:         Wed, 24 Aug 2005 13:26:07 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: Lowering vanagon springs
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2005082319504314@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>Cutting the springs sounds like a good idea.  I used to work for a
>steel company that sold steel for many purposes, including auto springs.
>I had to learn about them.  I even had to analyze losses in the process
>which rolled the mild steel rods and the spring companies that made
>springs out of the mild steel rods.  Porsche 911 springs are probably
>heated treated, high alloy steel.  My bet is that vanagon springs are mild
>steel.
>      The Arc of the Covenant, they are not.  If I screw it up, H&R sells
>lowered replacements for 200 bucks for set of 4.

NO springs are mild steel. Mild steel coils might support your van
briefly... until you hit a bump, then they will compress... and not
reextend, then fall out of the retainers. That will at minimum bugger
your dampers (shame if you've just fitted a nice new set of orange
Konis).

Cutting springs does work, but first you'd have to make sure that the
cut ends will properly seat in the retainers. And that you can cut
the ends at just the right angle, or HAVE them cut by a machine shop.
You will find the shortened result somewhat stiffer than they were at
full length.

For myself, I'd like a set of slightly stiffer springs with stock
length. Might have a local spring shop look at making a set... some
day.
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut

HUMANITY: THE ULTIMATE VON NEUMANN MACHINE

DEMOCRACY: RULE BY THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR