Date:         Fri, 19 Jun 1998 17:41:17 -0400
Reply-To:     Michael Sullivan <sullivan@OPENMARKET.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Sullivan <sullivan@OPENMARKET.COM>
Subject:      Re: Pre-loading Rear Springs re Syncro Suspension (long)
Comments: To: vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii"

>> I think that the spacer lifts the van some, but I also think it
compresses the

>> spring a little too.  The result is that with the spacer, the spring
is slightly

>> more compressed ... it is pre-loaded... over what it would be without
a spacer ...

>> with the same weight in the van, etc.

>

>nope, with a spacer the spring is still being compressed the same
amount

>due to the weight of the body/frame which hasn't changed.  in this
case

>there isn't really preload...i was wrong yesterday.  inserting the

>spacer 'opens' the suspension and extends the shock and the spring
isn't

>compressed any more than w/o the spacer.


Riddle me this: if the spacer were 12" thick would it compress the
spring? I think it would. Therefore, it stands to reason that a 1" thick
spacer would, in fact, compress the spring by some amount, IN SPITE OF
THE WEIGHT BEING THE SAME!


This riddle is not intended to offend or contradict anyone in anyway.
Rather, I think there is a lot of annectdotal evidence/reasoning being
thrown around by everyone. The wholey ignorant "I" tends to believe there
is some validity in what Steve says. And clearly, Derek has more
experience than anyone else on the list -- but even he could be mistaken
in some of his beliefs.


Cheers,



<bold>Michael J. Sullivan

</bold><italic>Director of Catalog Design

Open Market, Inc.

</italic>

*************************************

  work: http://www.openmarket.com

  play: http://www.hsdesign.com

*************************************



<bold>Michael J. Sullivan

</bold><italic>Director of Catalog Design

Open Market, Inc.

</italic>

*************************************

  work: http://www.openmarket.com

  play: http://www.hsdesign.com

*************************************