Date:         Mon, 4 Jul 2016 07:48:08 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: My van's home again!!!
Comments: To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
In-Reply-To:  <5346b15b-9063-7549-6b88-5cfa27d2cd7e@turbovans.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Handling, as influenced by suspension setup and tires, it is fascinating.
Altering one adjustment or component changes many of the other settings.
I have a GM Safari AWD van that was kinda unpleasant to drive.....a dead
feeling steering wheel and it darted around the lane, trying to turn too
sharply... I took just one turn off the adjusters for the front torsion
bars, lowering the ride height a bit...and now it steers nicely.
   When you first begin to learn about suspension, it's smart to be
conservative and make just small adjustments to a single setting, with a
way to go back to the way it was, if you find you've got things worse...if
a little change helps, you  can go a bit more...if it gets better, you can
do some more until you start to get negative results ...or you may discover
that another small "tweak" to a different part will enhance the change you
just made....and on and on....😉
  Keep track.   I keep notes for each vehicle...things I've done and
specific settings like tire pressures, changes to alignment, etc.   It's
very easy to"get lost" when you do a bunch of suspension changes all at
once...
For example:. That GM....I know lowering the front  made the vehicle drive
nicer, but was that just the ride height?   No, the whole thing is
different from that one  little change... toe, camber, caster, weight
transfer, etc etc...it all was altered with that one little tweak....but
which changes actually did the most?
   Fun stuff. It's not really a science, it's more of an art.... and there
are too many variables...each vehicle is unique... The fun is in making
them work better... like that Safari.....now it's fun to drive, but it
would still be a real Pig if I'd been lazy or meek.