Date:         Thu, 13 Mar 2014 17:36:41 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Shocks test
Comments: To: TonyCollin <tonycollin@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <15293253-3610-46CF-8721-DC3EC734C2A7@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

No reason to overcomplicate this, but it's worth having an infrared temp
tool anyway!  If you have a cat, it does double duty as a cat toy.

Bounce each corner and it should go down, up, and slightly back down to
normal height.

Some dive is normal.  To minimize this you can go to harder gas pressurized
shocks or stiffer springs, but the ride will be harsher since the van is so
light in front.

I've tried Bilstein, OEM Boge, and Gabriel over the years, and now run
Monroe Gas Magnums, a stiff and affordable option.  Check www.rockauto.com,
$36 front, $25 rear, or get them from your FLAPS.

Stuart


-----Original Message-----] On Behalf Of TonyCollin

Hello list
Maybe this is a stupid question but how do you check the shocks?

I know mine are really old. the back (iirc) are Gabriel brand ones, can not
recall the front.

If I stop really hard, I get incredible nose dive. The rebound is not bad.
Maybe half a bounce to settle back but the travel seems much.

I think the back is soft but I can not tell like you would in a smaller
vehicle. Meaning there is much to push back there the measure rebound.

I like to bring the stance of the van's huge wheel gap provided by the 85 gl
springs a little closer to earth with carat springs and other shocks.

How do others test for appropriate shock function?

Thanks
T.  =