Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:58:09 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Purple springs from H&R
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reply-type=response
Hi Mark, 'stiffer than stock' springs are definitely very desirable.
they considerably help handing as far as turn-in and corning ability go.
I kinda hate stockers for having just too low a spring rate for any
performance corning abilities on pavement.
What I want is 'same ride height' just stiffer by 30 % or so.
I haven't heard of any of those for sale.........I get the impression that
what you have is 'stiffer and lower' which is not what I want.
but if you're selling that set .........maybe I'd be interested.
I put Syncro.org springs, with Old Man Emu shocks, bigger brakes, and 15
inch wheels with Michelin Agilles tires on an SVX syncro westy I built for
a guy......
I have raced cars, I've raced off road in Baja, I've raced motorcycles, and
have driven over a million miles in many kinds of cars.......so I have 'some
experience's and I have to say, that syncro westy with that set up on it
handling fantastically on pavement. Like I couldn't have asked for any more
out of it.
Running those same tires and wheels on my current 2WD vanagon I can say
some of that was those tires.........awesome pavement summer tire for a
vanagon ......205/65 R15 C ..........but I hate my stock-soft spring rates -
thing still mushes out easily into hopeless understeer if you push it hard
into a corner........
primarily due to too soft spring rates.
Bottom line is, you want something other than stock springs,
but what you want is 'taller and stiffer' ......which is what syncro.org
springs are for syncro's....
another well-known company makes their version,
and I have not tried Van Cafe 2WD springs......but I believe those are
taller and stiffer too, for 2WD.
Ideal to me for pavement is close to stock height........and about 30 %
stiffer, and just guessing on that figure.
I don't want or like the 'slammed' look, like 'quite lowered' and I don't
need the '2 inches taller thing' either ..........personally, I just want
somewhat stiffer.
( my performance personal car, a turbo volvo sedan.........is almost
'unreasonably' too stiff in the ride department..........but that car NEVER
mushes out or lets you down in a corner. It's brilliant that way, and I'll
gladly live with a little stiffness to get handling prowess. What tire you
run matters a LOT too. Stock on my volvo are H speed rated tires, which are
very harsh riding, but 'T' speed rated tires are perfectly supple and sweet
on it, and handling is still 'right there.' )
And you gotta have 15 inch wheels on a vanagon too ( or 16's ) ....... 14's
can't really cut it at all, not for any well-developed properly sorted-out
serious vanagon.
The difference on my personal 2WD vangon between any kind of 14 inch tire I
could find, and 15 inch Michelin agilles tires is night and day, not even
comparable, the van is so much 'more' in every way with 15's and really good
tires on it. Let me know if you want to sell those springs you have, I
might be interested in them.
or trade for other vanagon or SUBARU-Vanagon parts.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark A Kippert" <vanagon@KIPPERT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 11:31 AM
Subject: Purple springs from H&R
> While crawling under my van cleaning the tranny to body ground I
> noticed that I had purple springs. They are on all 4 corners. I
> finally got around to checking them out further. They appear to by by
> H&R. I took some pictures and on the passenger side saw what I think
> is a model number (29 951 VA). My research indicates they lower the
> van 1.5 inches. I'm not sure I want my van lowered, I kinda like a
> taller ride.
>
> Does anybody have any experience with them? Are they something I want
> on my Vanagon. A previous owner must have wanted them but is it
> something I will find beneficial?
>
> Thanks!
> -Mark
>
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