Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2021 12:44:22 +0000
Reply-To: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Westy Lean
In-Reply-To: <MWHPR22MB012863790070D6CC8B0340F5BA8F9@MWHPR22MB0128.namprd22.prod.outlook.com>
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Our '87 showed a noticeable lean for years and the difference was a full inch side-to-side in the rear, with a quarter-inch difference across the front with the left being slightly lower. I finally resorted to the cutting board spacers and that corrected the problem, but raising the rear actually reduced the front height. I used three 5/16" spacers on the left rear. See below:
Left front before: 16 5/8" Left front after: 16 3/8", lower by 1/4"
Right front before: 16 7/8"Right front after: 16 1/2", lower by 3/8"
Left rear before: 15 1/2"Left rear after: 17", higher by 1 1/2"
Right rear before: 16 1/2"Right rear after: 16 3/4", higher by 1/4"
The range of difference among the four corners was 1 3/8" before and is less than 1/2" after, so the van sits more evenly with the fronts within 1/8" of each other and the rears within 1/4" of each other, and with the rear slightly higher than the front. So I went from sagging to the left rear to being fairly even side-to-side with a slight dump (as hotrodders call it) in the front.
Note that the three spacers combined raised that corner by MORE than the total thickness of the three spacers, that lifting the corner also raised the other rear corner by a lesser amount, and that the increase in rear height tipped the front lower on both sides. If I were extremely curious and industrious I'd remove one of those spacers to see the result but I have plenty of more pressing chores. I'm pleased with the result and especially the cost/benefit.
In order to get the third spacer in I had to disconnect that axle at the inboard end to get enough drop on the trailing arm. That was the only wrinkle in the job.
Stephen
On Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 02:31:56 AM EST, David Boan <dboan@outlook.com> wrote:
Dear Vanagon-Types
In the last year I added a spare tire mount to the driver side of the rear bumper of my 85 Westy and upgraded my house battery to an AGM, which is heavier than the previous lead acid battery and it also sits on the driver side. Measured at the rear wheels, the driver side is 5/8" lower than the right side, measured empty and no driver, except for a full tank of gas. In retrospect, I should have put the spare tire on the other side. It is the Westy World heavy-duty bumper and spare tire rack, and they are rather heavy. I am thinking of moving the spare tire mount to the right side to help counter the lean. Because the spare rides on the bumper I think the impact of the weight is multiplied by the leverage created by sitting beyond the axle, so moving it would seem to have an impact. I do not know the actual weight of the spare tire mount.
So, two questions for the wisdom of the group. Does a difference of 5/8" seem significant and worth trying to correct? The only comment I found in the archives or on Samba was that it could matter in extreme conditions, but what about otherwise? I see a lot of comments about lean being common, bnut how much lean is common? And does my logic about moving the spare seem reasonable? Also, I have the GoWesty progressive springs in the rear, and will have them in the front when I get to it (front springs are still original).
Thanks in advance.
Dave B.
Boise
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