Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2020 09:31:03 -0500
Reply-To: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Cutting board spring spacers
In-Reply-To: <DM6PR10MB4059C2F0E25690CDF766D1C9A00B0@DM6PR10MB4059.namprd10.prod.outlook.com>
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Hi Steven and others,
Steven, I didn’t get your original message despite my efforts to keep all posts coming. Luckily Dennis included it in his reply.
I was about to add a spacer there some time ago but instead chose to add air bags to the rear.
I had seen Frank Condelli at West River Westies with a motor cycle on the back of his van. He used air bags to keep the van elevated in the rear this kept weight on the front and he drove like that all over.
I thought that I could use the air bags for a little less drastic application. I installed them and then played with he pressure. I was able to raise the driver’s side to make the van more Evan. I could also, if desired add pressure if I put a lot of weight in the back.
Later Dennis leveled my van with the scales and did use a shim I believe on the driver’s rear.
Dennis left in my air bags on a minimum pressure so I can use them if desired. They certainly don’t harm handling and may have improved things a little.
One down side. I’ve noticed lately a squeaking in suspension. I traced it to the air bags. So something is rubbing just a bit to make a noise.
I will try to address that but I don’t want to mess up the nice balance Dennis created.
Point. Air bags may be another way to address the sag issue and give some adjustment.
In my case, I have both, new spacers slightly adjusted thickness and air bags.
They fit in nicely and almost look like they belong there. I used a existing hole located just above the rear spring to mount the valve and everything just fits and looks nice.
Also, Dennis mentioned to me and I had noticed that the original spring supports and such back there If not recently checked, are likely to need replacement as they don’t last the life of the van. This can also help.
Best,
Eric Caron
85 GL Auto
> On Jan 26, 2020, at 10:47 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> Some of the "Westy lean" is perception and some is the body not being quite straight. When I work on leveling the vans now I use a scale set. What I found is that shimming just on one corner can have other consequences. Lifting the left rear wheel takes more weight off of the right rear, (reducing traction) along with putting more weight on the right front. It's strange how weight anywhere in the van adds weight to all 4 corners except the rear near the hatch or on the hitch.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Stephen Grisanti
> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2020 8:26 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Cutting board spring spacers
>
> In order to cure the "Westy lean" I tried this fix on the left-rear of our van and it worked. Found a 5/16" thick cutting board big enough for me to get five pieces out of it, about 6" diameter with a 2" hole. These fit above the spring pad on the rear. Wheel off and with a floor jack beneath the trailing arm I removed the bottom bolt holding that shock and let it drop. Needed more to get the spring out and back in so undid the CV at the diff on that side and got the extra movement.
> The install was pretty straightforward but for the dribble of grey goop from the CV joint and the hassle of trying to restart the six bolts on it.
> The result? Raised that corner from 15 1/2" to 17" (measured from the hub center up to the bottom of the wheel arch for consistency) and made ride height at all four corners approximately even. A sagless Westy, quite an acceptable outcome. This may not post due to my ongoing difficulties with the list.
> Stephen
