Date:         Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:47:47 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Rear Springs
Comments: To: mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net>
In-Reply-To:  <50A27BB6.3020305@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

And....You can't just buy aftermarket springs to get the ride you like
because the configuration of our Vanagon springs is so different than
normal coil over springs....which is too bad because we certainly could
improve the suspension.

   In a more conventional set up with 'normal' coil over springs you can
get springs in any length and weight rate for cheap and they are pretty
easy to swap.   Ours come to sort of a point to 'follow the arc' of our
swing arms without any real pivot mounting.  Weird, but they do the job
adequately for a van, I guess.....I find I could certainly use a lot more
travel to keep traction in my van....just a few inches of road surface
irregularity has my wheels hopping or spinning in air...

  Don Hanson

On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 8:56 AM, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:

> The progressive rear springs are composed of end coils that are much
> smaller wire diameter than the main coils. These thinner coils sag over
> time at a faster rate than the much thicker middle coils. The front
> springs have all thicker coils and sag less.
>
> This is also why adding rear spacers to make up for the sag results in a
> harsher ride than if the springs weren't sagged. The thinner end coils
> are what made the rears progressive and without the thinner coils being
> active anymore the spring is too stiff.
>
> Mark
>
>
> Steven Shelton wrote:
>
>> My van rarely squeaks.  I just assumed that, because it took a 1 1/2"
>> spacer to level the van, the springs are compressed and the range of
>> travel
>> is  reduced.  Of course, I also assumed that since the engine is in the
>> rear the weight distribution would be toward the rear also.  That
>> apparently is not the case.  Why, then, does the rear sag in so many
>> vanagons and not the front?
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Nov 13, 2012 at 10:03 AM, Steven Shelton <shelton4@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>  I used 1 1/2" spacers to cure a serious saggy butt problem on my 1985
>>> camper.  The van looks much better, but the lack of spring travel affects
>>> the ride, especially over rough terrain.
>>>
>>