Date:         Mon, 8 Feb 2021 14:41:33 -0500
Reply-To:     Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Eric Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Westy Lean
Comments: To: David Boan <dboan@OUTLOOK.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <MWHPR22MB012863790070D6CC8B0340F5BA8F9@MWHPR22MB0128.namprd22.prod.outlook.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Hi David,

        I think there are some very detailed emails about this in the archives. 

Dennis Haynes has a set of scales and wrote up the impact of the weights and positions. 

Did you measure before adding the weight?

Changing the shims on one corner has a lot of effects around the van. 

Still, one simple and adjustable solution is to add the air bags inside the rear springs.  I learned about this when Frank Condelli carried a motorcycle on the back of his bus.  To get the weight back on his front wheels he used the air bags. 

I have a set and keep them at minimal inflation as the van has been adjusted.  But they are ready for use if needed.


This is likely not a great solution but it allows for exact correction of the lean and if needed compensates for weight in the rear. 

I’d recommend reading the posts that lay out the options and effects of correcting the lean. 

Eric Caron 
85 GL Auto 



> On Feb 8, 2021, at 1:35 PM, 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