Date:         Tue, 30 Jun 1998 16:39:56 -0700
Reply-To:     "Steven X. Schwenk" <sxs@SCHWENK-LAW.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Steven X. Schwenk" <sxs@SCHWENK-LAW.COM>
Subject:      Re: Pre-loading Rear Suspension :ayee!
Comments: To: Alistair Bell <albell@uvic.ca>
Comments: cc: Vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Alistair Bell wrote:

> >
>
> last last comment *s*
>
> you're right if you are pushing against a fixed object, but you're not. If
> the spring can lift the van without the spacer, it certainly can do it
> equally with the spacer - the van simply rides higher (until you add enough
> spacers to bottom out the suspension).
>
> Alistair

 This is where communication is breaking down.  It visually appears that once
you put weight on the pre-loaded spring, it just lifts the van a little higher
and there is no other difference, really. If the van were sitting directly on
the spring alone...that would be true.  It isn't though.  The van is sitting on
a pre-loaded spring....it is sitting on a spring confined within the limits of
the fixed spring perches.... the spacer makes the perches squeeze or compress
the spring so that it is further compressed throughout its entire range of
travel  ... from fully extended to bottomed out...and whether 0 pounds or 1000
pounds are on it.  It never loses the pre-load.

Imagine just swapping springs, instead.  Take out the stock spring and insert
one the same length, but 100 time stiffer (thicker coils etc.)  This spring is
so stiff that it does not sag the suspension at all.  Now you can't say that the
stiffer spring rate is not responsible for the van riding higher...of course it
is, what else is there.  The van's weight is not enough to compress it at all.
So, increased spring tension obviously can accomplish what it looks like the
spacer is doing.

Well...enough of this for a while.  My apoligies to those who find this
discussion boring or tedious or stupid.  Let me do my springs (Harry already did
his, it sounds like) and let's get some Bay area syncro westfalias
together...Hey you syncro westy guys and gals in SF and surrounds...how about a
glass of cabernet or whatever your pleasure, and lets see if there is any
appreciable/beneficial difference.  I have boges on all 4 wheels.
steve