Date:         Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:36:47 -0700
Reply-To:     "Joe T." <vanagon85@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Joe T." <vanagon85@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Ronals, Michelins, and Bilsteins
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hi List,

After several years of hard searching and missed chances, I finally got a
set of Ronal R9's last month.

They're 15x7 ET 23, mounted on Michelin Agilis 205 65 15's.  I've always
loved these wheels and have been trying to find a set forever.  While silver
was my original choice, the set I found have a very well-done gunmetal grey
finish.

I installed them recently, along with new ball joints and Bilstein HD's from
Van Cafe over the weekend.  I also completey rebuilt my rear brakes,
installed a new stereo (Pioneer DEH-3200UB), rewired the subwoofer, and
added three-point harnesses in the back.  I'm sore and my knuckles are
bloody, but it was more fun than I have since, well, the last time I
dedicated a weekend to working on my Vanagon.

I have to say that the combination of Bilstein struts and the larger
wheels/higher offset/lower profile tires make a big difference in the way
the van tracks, handles, and feels.  I was excited about our high winds in
Denver today; I was able to get out on the highway and was astounded by the
stability. It really does drive like a completely different vehicle.

(This stuff replaced 14" Carat alloys with BFG 27x8.5 14's and five year-old
Boge struts.)

Here are a couple of pics.  Apologies for the crappy cell phone quality.

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/762601.jpg

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/762600.jpg

Cheers,
Joe T.
'85 Wolfsburg Westy Subie 2.2