Date: Tue, 9 Jan 2007 08:04:52 EST
Reply-To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: Spring question - help needed
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 07/01/2007 1:53:13 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
campahvan@earthlink.net writes:
In a message dated 05/01/2007 11:25:18 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
Question about front springs for an '87 Vanagon Westy. Planning to
rejuvenate the front suspension of my '87 Westy now with 500,000 kms, I
purchased a
set of front springs from the Bus Depot, part # "251 411 105 A 952,
front,
BOGE, standard height for Vanagon or Camper". Today I disassembled the
front
end of my Westy and removed the springs which to my knowledge have never
been
replaced previously. When I put the old springs next to the new ones I
saw
that the new springs are more than 1" shorter than the ones I removed.
Puzzled to say the least. So what I want to know is:
Bus Depot: Did you send me the correct springs ? Wrong spring in the
right box ? Or ??
List members: Has anyone had this experience ? What did you do ? Will
the shorter springs work or are they just plain wrong ?
Something's not right and I need help please !!
Has no one besides me bought these springs from the Bus Depot ? Reason I
ask is that I have not received any responses from anyone who has. Nor
have I
received an answer from the Bus Depot.
OK, for those interested here's what I've found out thus far. Below are
the responses I've received on this issue and following that are my
conclusions.
From: _starwagen@gmail.com_ (mailto:starwagen@gmail.com)
RE: New front springs...
Waiting in the wings for the answers since I need to get the front end of my
'90 Westy back up where it belongs....
From: _rubatoguy@comcast.net_ (mailto:rubatoguy@comcast.net)
I thought the Bus Depot BOGE springs were the lower 'sport' springs.
I think the factory went to lower springs late in the model run 89 or so..
but an 1" is quite a difference.
I had some H&R lowering springs and they were about the same difference you
describe - I can send you a photo if you like
regards,
Todd
From: _hansachter@hotmail.com_ (mailto:hansachter@hotmail.com)
Frank,
What are the paint marks on the stock springs you removed?
-Hans
From: _CTONLINE@webtv.net_ (mailto:CTONLINE@webtv.net)
<< I purchased a set of front springs from the Bus Depot, part # "251
411 105 A 952, front, BOGE, standard height for Vanagon or Camper".
When I put the old springs next to the new ones I saw that the new
springs are more than 1" shorter than the ones I removed. Puzzled to say
the least.
Bus Depot: Did you send me the correct springs ?
Wrong spring in the
right box ? Or ??
List members: Has anyone had this experience ?
What did you do ? Will
the shorter springs work or are they just
plain wrong ?>>
Don't be puzzled here Frankie, the root of the problem is obvious.
You've got the wrong springs if they are shorter than the OE springs you
just yanked outa the Van.
Unless-- the coil windinga are larger, or you have a set of
progressively wound springs , which I doubt, the BD even has.
Why don't you drop Ronnie a line, and ask him?
I'm sure he'll have an eloquent 2 page long answer for you.
Whatever you have there is wrong, not correct.
The new springs should be a bit longer when fresh outa the box.
Your a smart guy Frankie--you should have known this.
______________
|[ ] [ ] [ ]\
| | | |
~~~ ~||-(())----(())-|
Terry--
" Brrrrrr, Pop, Bang, Pow! "
From: _dnd.obryan@comcast.net_ (mailto:dnd.obryan@comcast.net)
Frank,
I too got springs from Bus Depot. Front and rear. They were both about one
inch shorter than stock. I put them on and am very happy with the ride.
That combined with 15 inch rims and Michelin Aegilis tires seem to work well
together. Never had such little sway/roll in corners and the wind doesn't
blow me around anywhere near as much as it used to.
YMMV.
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25
From: _ron@busdepot.com_ (mailto:ron@busdepot.com)
Frank,
VW used various spring heights on various models/years of Vanagons. Boge
makes only one replacement spring, and it is basically the middle of the
three heights. So it may be a bit shorter than the springs used on some
campers, but taller than, say, a Wolfsburg edition. It will work fine on
your camper, although it may alter ride height slightly. That's why my
listing recommends replacing all 4 at once, so that if you are replacing
original springs that were slightly taller or slightly shorter the height
will still be even front and rear.
If your existing springs are taller, you may currently have the other
version listed here:
http://busdepot.com/view.jsp?model=43&category=19&group=129&prodgroup=1014
They are available only from VW, and as you can see they are about twice the
price. You could see if your existing springs have part numbers on them, or
else there should be a colored paint mark on the springs that can be used to
identify them. (I believe ETKA identifies the paint marks.) This may also
identify whether the springs you have are original for the year or not. If
so, you could use them to maintain a taller ride, although others prefer the
middle sized springs on campers because it allows the camper to fit into
more parking garages (or home garages).
From: _campahvan@earthlink.net_ (mailto:campahvan@earthlink.net)
Hi Frank,
This will not help you much but I did buy the same springs from TBD
(actually all 4) to replace the H&R lowering springs that were on my
Transporter single cab when I bought it. I wasn't able to inspect the
original springs but, as expected, the H&R's were considerable shorter than
the new standard Boge's. I've attached a couple of comparison photos for
your consideration.
I also replaced the existing 4 Koni shocks (the rears were too short when I
installed the new springs) with the OEM Boge/Sachs hydraulic shocks.
While the front end was disassembled I decided to also replace the worn out
radial arm bushings with sleeves and L & R tie rod ends. The upper and
lower ball joints had been replaced by the previous owner. I am using a
stock size tire (Cooper SRM II, Load range D, 1875 lbs @ 65 psi) and I
believe it drives and handles like new. It has no trouble handling a cord
of dry firewood though the 1.6 TD feels the load!
I am considering replacing the springs on my 85 Westy with the same standard
Boge springs and I would like to hear about your results.
Andrew
Bainbridge Island WA
From: _hansachter@hotmail.com_ (mailto:hansachter@hotmail.com)
Hmmm... If I remember correctly, the paint marks were on the top end of the
springs when I did Genevieve's van (90 westy).
I would have guessed brown marks also.
My guess is that somewhere along the line someone changed them for 84/85
double yellow springs. The marks being on the bottom of the spring might
support that theory also. I would think the factory would install them with the
paint marks on the top end so they would last longer and also for ease of
reading them. That's what I found on Genevieve's van (a single owner
well-cared-for van).
I seem to recall that your van sits rather high, so it definitely doesn't
have the lowering springs on it.
I swapped the lowering springs in Genevieve's van for the 85 springs to give
it more ground clearance for taller tires.
-Hans
From: Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: vanagon spring rate color coding for different models...READ!!
Sorry, but I don't think those colors are right.
There are 4 replacement part numbers for 2 wd fronts, but in only 3 colors.
For FRONT springs ONLY I think it is something like this:
Yellow was used in some tall early years(83-85 Campers?) as well as
later lowered passenger models, different numbers, visibly longer
earlier spring.
Blue is the common passenger models, standard height, all years?
Brown is for Westy Campers starting in late 1985.
(Syncro front all the same, violet.)
The springs can have 1,2,or 3 paint marks of the same color. This was
for a matching pair. For example, there would be a slight difference
between 1 blue mark and 2 blue marks though they had the same part
number and VW would match the springs on each van by number of marks.
Mark
So............what to make of all this ! Looks like the springs that I
removed from my '87 Westy have one yellow mark and are about 1" taller than the
Boge springs from the Bus Depot. From all information my Van should have the
two brown marked springs. Maybe that was a brown mark, I can't be sure, as
the amount of rust on the springs surely has removed any markings that I can
decipher properly. So what to do ? I have now decided to install and use the
Boge springs I got from the Bus Depot and report back my findings. Stay
tuned !
Cheers,
Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg (Forsale) & Lionel Trains (_Collection
for sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10, 2007
