Date: Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:03:21 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 2wd Bilstein shocks, do they wear out?
In-Reply-To: <019701ca0e63$ed152ea0$6401a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I live in the Columbia River Gorge and drive an 84 van. It gets pushed
around here. Heck, my ford diesel 4x4 truck gets pushed around here by the
gusty winds.
One thing I changed recently that helps quite a bit is I lowered the tire
pressure in my fronts to the psi the door sticker says I should run. I was
up about 6psi higher. Makes a big difference. The van still gets
buffetted around, but if you leave the steering wheel alone it continues
down the road pretty straight...it just feels like it's gonna dive into the
river but it doesn't....
I don't think there is much you can do, what with the shape of a Vanagon,
in winds that are often gusting at 60+mph and have to blow around cliffs and
canyons..That is why they have all the signs warning about "strong gusty
winds" alongside the interstate...
We windsurfers like it when a condition called "smoke" occurs. Gusts hit
the surface of the river and actually blow so hard they pick up the water
and turn it into what looks like smoke. We don't even get our boards out to
sail till the wind gets up to around 25mph and us "locals" do not bother
till it blows about 35 or more.. Factor in all the rotory air currents
created by the topography of the Gorge and you'll get some unpredictable
behavior from your Vanagon no matter what kind of suspension or tires you
have.
Don Hanson
On Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 7:42 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> I wouldn't think they'd be worn out in 40K.
> I ran a set of front 2WD HD Bilsteins for 100K on a vanagon and thought
> they weren't that sharp after that distance, but they weren't shot or
> anything.
>
> you didn't mention tires.
> Tires, particularly sidewall stiffness, and being vanagon load-rated
> ......is especially important on vanagons.
>
> more - - - - - I kinda 'really like' tires, always have. I own many
> sets, and many vanagons. So I can try different sets on one van , for
> comparison.
> I'll tell you a tire that is *really* 'sharp' ....i.e.. 'very, very good'
> on
> a vanagon.
> that's the Michelin Agilles 205/65 R 15 C.
>
> I'm getting a very well persevered and super rust free 1985 Adventurewagon
> ready to sell. I put a set of four of Agilles on, on 15 inch steel wheels
> on
> it. .....
> instantly the van tracks way, way better ! ( brand new HD Bilsteines in
> front , ok rear shocks ) .........the ride is very controlled,
> turn-in is nice, cornering is good. . But particularly straight line
> tracking .....and general directional stability - like 'stellar' in that
> department.
> those tires are twice as much tire as many others, and they cost like it
> too, but man do I love 'em.
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joel VanderKwaak" <joelvanderkwaak@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2009 6:45 PM
> Subject: 2wd Bilstein shocks, do they wear out?
>
>
> Hey all,
>>
>> I just returned from a longish drive to/from the SF Bay area to my
>> hometown, Terrace, BC.
>>
>> On the way back I passed through Columbia River country, where the
>> wind blows strong, and I found the front end of the van difficult to
>> control at highway speeds.
>>
>> I have a set of HD Bilstein shocks on the front, installed in 2005,
>> and was wondering if it was time to replace them (they have about 40K
>> miles on them). They pass the standard bounce test, and have no leaks,
>> yet something doesn't seem stable. For the record, I installed a set
>> of GoWesty springs last year when I rebuilt the front end (ball
>> joints, etc), and am running a set of syncro OME shocks on the rear.
>> Could be something isn't balanced well...
>>
>> Any words of wisdom? I'll be heading to VolksCafe in the morning for
>> some other parts, so responding sooner than later would be
>> appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Joel
>>
>
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