Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 12:19:42 -0700
Reply-To: BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: How do you when your springs need to be replaced?
In-Reply-To: <2E1EDF9C-DCFA-4419-BDF9-CD86160F967E@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Robert,
There's a lot more to ride than meets the springs. Tires, shocks, weight, sensitivity of your bottom, are some of the factors that come into play.
Forget comparing it to the heavier Westy. A heavier vehicle will relate to unsprung weight better than your lightweight van. Think about the bully in the playground. The bigger he/she is than you, will determine how harsh feeling his shove will be. An 85lb. bully can hardly move you if you were say 250lbs. You might not even notice. Heavy Westy, 50lb wheel and tire. Lighter Carat van, same 50lb wheel and tire. You will feel it more. Comparing the ride of your van to the Westy wouldn't be a good test.
As for taller springs, that will depend on their spring rate. Generally speaking, lowered springs are stiffer and compress less. Result is a bumpier ride. The manufacturer cam adjust spring rate so they can balance ride quality vs. lower ride. IMHO, the Carat springs provide a pretty close ride to the taller Vanagon springs.
Shocks an affect ride as you already know. Gas shocks add more so than oil filled shocks. Others will chime in who know more. I'm only touching the basics. Shocks damper the oscillation. That's the bobbing up an down action of the body as it rides on the springs. If you are feeling a slam as your suspension compresses, gas shocks can affect that. Oil shocks shouldn't affect it much. But as you discovered it does this at the sacrifice of handling. Less of a factor I ride comfort in your situation in my opinion.
One factor not commonly considered is wheels and tires. The taller the tire, the more it adds to the cushiness of the ride. Then there's sidewall strength. The heavier the load rating, the less flexing you will have. It's further complicated because taller tires have more rubber and contribute to unsprung weight. It's a bigger bully than the smaller tire. Another tire factor is wheel size. The Vanagons were designed originally to ride on 14" wheels and taller tires. If you switched to 15" or larger wheels and kept the original overall height, you had to move to a tire with shorter sidewalls. Guess what? Shorter sidewalls give a harsher ride.
Well, gotta run for now. Someone is staring me down over lunch.
BenT
sent from my electronic leash
On Jul 28, 2011, at 10:08 AM, Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM> wrote:
> I have an 88 Wolfsburg GL. It has new front and reach shocks on it replaced about 2 years ago. It also has all new front bushings upper and lower. For the rear shocks it has Koni Red's at the middle level setting and on the front it has Boge's on them.
>
> I used to have the KYB's on the van and immediately took them off because the ride was super stiff and I felt every bump like there was no suspension at all. (If someone wants these shocks for a discount price let me know.)
>
> When I first got the van it had the old original shocks on it, very cushy and bouncy. I loved the cushyness but the bouncyness drove me crazy so I replaced them all.
>
> Now the ride is a lot better, wind pressure on the van does not make it sway all over the road but I still feel all the bumps!
>
> What's the issue here?
>
> Wrong shocks or old tired springs?
>
> My springs are the Carat style shorter ones, I have ridden in my friends Westy with the taller springs and the ride is amazing compared to my short springs.
>
> Do I need to replace these springs to get a more springy cushin' to the ride?
>
> Can I swap out my short springs for taller ones? If so do I need to change the shocks as well?
>
> Can I put in salvage yard taller springs?
>
> By the way I the Bus Depot RA08's on the van and they are great.
>
> Thanks for the advice,
> Robert
> Upstate NY
