Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2013 08:50:15 -0500
Reply-To: ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Bjorkman <ddbjorkman@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Front end workout-saved my Westy and our lives
Content-type: text/html; charset=UTF-8
<div style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 16px"><DIV> I also was saved by suspension work. Just before leaving for a cross/around country trip last year, I had/did major rebuild work on the suspension, replacing everything that was questionable and putting in the urethane bushings. Out on the road, many list members sent me up and down and around every curvy, heavy altitude change, scary, beautiful road from Nebraska to California and some back again. Thank you very much. But there were some real surprises and some other unpredictable drivers. I can easily think of 2 or 3 instances (one in particular down a crazy hill with a hairpin turn) when, if I had not kept the suspension up to snuff, I would have lost control, gone over an edge or into oncoming traffic.</DIV><DIV>The Vanagon suspension is a wonder of engineering, but only if one keeps it in shape. It is not only how fast one can go (engine upgrades), or slow (big brakes), but also how one can swerve and maneuver to avoid.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>Dave B.</DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV style="BORDER-TOP: #bcbcbc 1px solid; MARGIN: 5px 0px"></DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; FONT-FAMILY: arial; COLOR: #000000">On 09/26/13, <SPAN>David Clarkson<dvdclarksn@AOL.COM></SPAN> wrote:</SPAN><DIV> </DIV><DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; FONT-FAMILY: arial; COLOR: #000000">Not intending to be overly dramatic here but I think that the work that <BR>I recently did may have saved my wife's, my dog's and my own life not <BR>to mention saving me from totalling our 90 westy. I had failed Va. <BR>state safety inspection for a premature, in my opinion, lower control <BR>arm bushing failure. I purchased new bushings and also decided that the <BR>van was way overdue on having the mushy, sagging springs replaced on <BR>all four corners. The Bilstein heavy duty shocks and struts only had <BR>about 15,000 miles on them and seemed to be performing well so they <BR>were adjusted to the new springs after their installation. I replaced <BR>the springs with the progressive design springs from one of our list <BR>vendors. About a month later I was traveling with my wife and dog in <BR>the car at about 55 mph (the posted speed limit) on a straight stretch <BR>of 2 lane highway (1 lane in each direction). All of the sudden out of <BR>the corner of my left eye I saw an SUV burst into the road about to <BR>t-bone me at a right angle from the left. I instinctively swerved to <BR>the right on the small bit of asphalt at the intersection and back onto <BR>the road all while never losing speed and ending up in front of this <BR>vehicle. It was a miracle that the van handled and responded the way <BR>that it did without rolling. I can only attribute this to the <BR>suspension that was recently replaced and properly adjusted (front <BR>struts). I was overcome with relief and anger that this person almost <BR>killed us but we did not wreck. It took all that I had not to pull over <BR>and confront this individual but decided I needed to be civil and <BR>abstain from road rage. I still should have called 911 and reported him <BR>in case he was somehow impaired. No, our vans were built long before <BR>antilock brakes, traction control systems and airbags; but when <BR>properly maintained systems like the suspension and tires can allow <BR>these vehicles to handle in a very nimble and predictable manner. Thank <BR>you nimble and safe Westfalia for keeping us safe. You shall soon be <BR>rewarded with body work, fresh paint and seals. Replace those worn <BR>suspension components folks it's not just a comfort measure!<BR><BR>David Clarkson<BR>Equipment Consultant<BR>Southern Automotive Garage Equipment<BR>sageautoequipment.com<BR><A class=parsedEmail href="mailto:dvdclarksn@aol.com" target=_blank>dvdclarksn@aol.com</A><BR></DIV></div>
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