Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 19:39:09 -0700
Reply-To: BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Magical cast iron suspension?
In-Reply-To: <5ebe10a0810081512l3f76ad0en88a3a4590e0bd3c2@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Chris,
I have both cast and pressed steel lower control arms in various Vanagons. I
feel there is no material difference
in the handling characteristics of one over the other. Shock damping, spring
rates, and wheel/tire size (weight)
will have more to do with ride.
Unsprung weight is important but less so in a heavy vehicle like the
Vanagon. To use an extreme example, think
about how much effect jumping up and down on the earth will do to the
earth's mass. You are pushing the earth
away but nobody else feels it (except an ant underfoot maybe). Try that on a
small rock and you should have no
trouble sending it off with a light kick. So what if the cast arms are
heavier? They do weight enough to offset the
much heavier weight of the Vanagon. Besides as someone has pointed out, part
of the weight is supported on the
sprung side of the chassis.
As far as I know, there is no difference in the geometry of the cast vs.
pressed steel control arms. Perhaps VW did
this to reduce the incidence of lower control arms rusting away and becoming
unsafe. But then why would they
continue offering them in later model T3's like my 89 & 90 European T3's?
IMHO, you should just stick with your pressed steel lower control arms if
they are in good shape. I know this may
not be a popular position, but I felt the Ebay description in question is
obviously a heavy-handed sales pitch.
Cheers,
BenT
ps: one of my vans has PS equipped with pressed steel arms.
On Wed, Oct 8, 2008 at 3:12 PM, Chris S <szpejankowski@gmail.com> wrote:
> I was interested in your magical cast iron pieces and gave serious
> consideration to purchase, but your description casts great doubt on
> honesty of your claims. I have posted a question about them here
> previously and they were met with skepticism. Also, I have owned an
> '85 Westy and now have an '84, and I must say that disagree with your
> observations as both vehicles have very similar steering quality with
> the '84 having an edge in comfort due to better shock absorbers.
>
> So, until someone can give me logical and quantifiable explanation
> about the alleged superiority of the cast iron design I too shall
> remain a skeptic.
>
> Sorry to give you grief, but I learned a long time ago to first submit
> ideas to the relentless scrutiny of the list.
>
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