Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 20:00:50 -0400
Reply-To: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Rear spring question
In-Reply-To: <5196ABDA.5060700@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Good idea! I am in the midst of doing it on one side so maybe I'll record
the reassembly on that side and the disassembly on the other side.
Fun, fun, silly, willy! Narf!
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
On Fri, May 17, 2013 at 6:14 PM, JRodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com> wrote:
> Ken,
>
> I love your How-To videos on Youtube. The front spring change would be a
> great subject for another.
>
> John
>
>
> On 5/17/2013 4:19 PM, Ken Wilford wrote:
>
>> The only two things that can mess you up is at the bottom of the rear
>> spring there is a metal piece that keeps the spring centered on the rear
>> trailing arm. This can rust and snap off or just go away over time.
>> Check that to be sure it is there when you are changing shocks if not
>> you are probably going to need a replacement trailing arm. The other
>> thing that goes away is a thin plastic shim that is at the bottom of the
>> spring and protects this lower spring perch. If that is gone then it can
>> allow the spring to rub against the lower control arm and cause it to
>> rust or wear out faster. It can be difficult to source this shim so I
>> have made replacement ones out of the side of an antifreeze jug. It is
>> about the right thickness plastic. Just use a pair of scissors and the
>> old one as a pattern or make the new one big enough to cover the round
>> pad on the lower spring perch area.
>>
>> As far as changing it out it is pretty easy. Even the front ones on a
>> 2wd van aren't too bad. Remove the nut on the radius rod and the front
>> steering knuckle. Jack up on the lower control arm. Remove the lower
>> shock bolt. Slowly lower the lower control arm with a jack will allow
>> the spring to release and you can pull the spring out of the bottom.
>> Then you put the new one back in and put the lower control arm against
>> the jack and start jacking it up until the spring compresses enough to
>> put the lower shock bolt back in and you are good to go. I leave the
>> front shocks in place as I do this.
>>
>> Just did the set of GW stock progressive springs last week. If you use
>> those, be sure the tighter coils are at the top (don't ask how I know
>> this). :-)
>>
>> On a syncro Vanagon you will need to compress the spring with a spring
>> compressor tool, there is no way around it.
>>
>> Ken Wilford
>> John 3:16
>> www.vanagain.com
>>
>> On 5/17/2013 2:40 PM, Jim Felder wrote:
>>
>>> The gowesty site makes a big deal out of how hard the rear springs are to
>>> install? Izzat so?
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Jim
>>>
>>>
>>> -----
>>> No virus found in this message.
>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>> Version: 2013.0.3336 / Virus Database: 3162/6331 - Release Date: 05/17/13
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> --
>> Thanks,
>> Ken Wilford
>> John 3:16
>> www.vanagain.com
>> Phone: 856-327-4936
>> Fax: 856-327-2242
>>
>>
>
--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
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