Date:         Sat, 22 Oct 2005 17:58:08 +0000
Reply-To:     joe trussell <vanagongl@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         joe trussell <vanagongl@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Springs & Shocks
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Hi Folks,

My '85 Wolfsburg Weekender had the usual saggy rear-end problem, and even
with Airlift bags, it was still low back there; furthermore, the shocks were
shot and the ride was awful.  I also wanted the thing to fit into my garage,
so...

1) I found a set of used springs from a '90 Westfalia and bought them for
$40.
2) I bought a set of new Boge front shocks on Ebay and got them for $40.
3) I bought Alko rear shocks from Bus Depot and paid list.

(I'm proud of the deals I found.)

I did the whole job yesterday, and these are a few observations:

1) It rides like a Cadillac (or a Vanagon version of a Cadillac) now!  Less
sway, no mind-jarring, rattling bumps, it's quiet, absolutely amazing change
from the rusted, blown CarQuest gas shocks that the P.O. had installed years
ago.

2) It fits in my garage but I have a streak of paint on my skylight, so I
guess it doesn't truly fit...

3) The whole stance is about 1 3/4 inches lower all the way around,

BUT

the front end is STILL an inch or so higher than the rear.

Could this be attributed to the Boges in the front and Alko's in the rear?
Or did I buy a set of springs that were shot, the same way my '85 springs
were?

At this point, I'm not interested in doing the job again, so I'm happy to
live with the lower rear end as a tradeoff for an amazing ride, but I'm
curious if anyone has opinions on why this would be?  I thought that newer
Westies were level!

Thanks!

Joe T.
Denver, CO
'85 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Vamn Danagon"

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