Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2022 11:39:02 -0700
Reply-To: christopher@T3TECHNIQUE.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Christopher Schimke <christopher@T3TECHNIQUE.COM>
Subject: Re: Front spring question
In-Reply-To: <AEFA5EC0-A347-41B8-A4F9-E553F6566CE1@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
You shouldn’t need any other support products. You will need to have an alignment performed though.
Yes, if your current ride height is about 17”, the 1” spring shims should result in an 18” ride height. No concern there at all, especially if 18” was your previous ride height.
Generally speaking, springs lose their load height over time, so the spring shims should solve your ride height issue for many years to come.
Christopher
From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2022 9:27 AM
To: christopher@t3technique.com
Cc: Vanagon List <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Subject: Re: Front spring question
Hi Chris,
Thank you for making great support products available but for me just as importantly, thank you for sending me in the right direction answering questions.
What if any additional support products would be needed with the shims? I want to have everything I need to bring to my suspension shop in hand.
My suspension has been updated recently so the shims should solve the sag issue.
I have a 85 and want the original height so I’m planning on the larger 1 inch size. Is there any concern there? My measurements seem to show that would get me to just about 18 inch from middle of axil and I think that is where I was.
Also once a spring saggs is it likely to continue to sag quickly or will it hopefully be another 40 years before I loose another inch?
I know this is only something you can guess on but I’d love your thoughts.
I’m really looking forward to such a straight forward and elegant solution to my front end sag issue.
Eric Caron
85 Auto
On Sep 22, 2022, at 10:21 AM, <christopher@t3technique.com <mailto:christopher@t3technique.com> > <christopher@t3technique.com <mailto:christopher@t3technique.com> > wrote:
Well, I'm not part of this list to try to create sales, only to help when I can, so forgive me if my response(s) lead to that.
I make some really nice spring shims for the front. They are machined to fit on top of the stock rubber spring isolators and to fit snugly into the spring pocket. I'll add the link address here, but I think you'll have to copy and paste it. If that doesn’t work, you can see them on the T3 Technique website under the Front Suspension section in the second row of items.
<https://t3technique.com/collections/front-suspension-parts/products/spring-shim-set-front-only> https://t3technique.com/collections/front-suspension-parts/products/spring-shim-set-front-only
Christopher
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Caron < <mailto:ericcaron96@comcast.net> ericcaron96@comcast.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2022 6:58 AM
To: <mailto:christopher@t3technique.com> christopher@t3technique.com
Cc: Vanagon List < <mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Subject: Re: Front spring question
Wow!
This is really great news for me as my springs seem to be clean and in very nice condition. The rear are still at stock height.
So, the next question would be how do I shim the front springs to get back to level? What materials are needed and are there any directions out there?
I’m not ruling out doing it myself until I learn more, but if a spring compressor is involved I’m likely to bring it to my alignment and suspension shop!
Any how to and material lists out there?
Eric Caron
85 GL Auto
> On Sep 21, 2022, at 10:57 PM, < <mailto:christopher@t3technique.com> christopher@t3technique.com> < <mailto:christopher@t3technique.com> christopher@t3technique.com> wrote:
>
> One thing to keep in mind is that springs maintain their original spring rate (stiffness) throughout their life, even if the "sag" (which is officially referred to as "losing load height). In other words, if a spring had a 400 lb spring rate when it left the assembly line, as long as the spring is not broken, has not been cut, etc., it will still have a 400 lb rate for the rest of its life. What this means is that any handling degradation you feel is mostly due to alignment change that occurs as the ride height changes over time.
>
> In my opinion, shimming the stock springs is perfectly acceptable/reasonable. In fact, VW did an excellent job of specifying the spring rates for the Vanagon, so keeping the stock springs has some advantages over going with stiffer aftermarket springs. .
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List < <mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of Eric Caron
> Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2022 5:41 PM
> To: <mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Front spring question
>
> Hi folks,
>
> During a recent trip my suspension had a few issues. One was that the front springs sagged. The front is about 1 inch less then it has been for the last 10 years. Example when the van is parked on a level surface the sliding door now closes. This never happened before the trip, van sat level.
>
> So my question is, rather than replacing the springs is there a safe and reasonable way to shim the front? I’d rather do that then try to drop the back.
> The springs are not rusty and seem intact. The van rides and handles ok. Maybe not as good as before but not bad. Still handling better than before the tire and suspension upgrades.
> Springs are not broken.
>
> Ideas and experiences?
>
> Eric Caron
> 85 GL Auto
>
