Date:         Wed, 9 Jun 1999 13:05:18 -0700
Reply-To:     "Steven X. Schwenk" <Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Steven X. Schwenk" <Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM>
Subject:      Re: Syncro Springs List Purchase Homework Assignment ADDENDUM
Comments: To: EMZ <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I must say I agree with you, though, Eric, when it comes to the efforts
of some to gain significant amounts of additional ground clearance by
altering stock suspension dynamics...i.e. by using much stiffer or much
longer springs.  Then you wander outside the stock specs.  This limits
suspension travel and performance, and destabilizes the vehicle to some
degree on some types of terrain while making it more stable on
others...but you do get that additional ground clearance, and for a
select few, that is critical and worth the trade off.
steve

EMZ wrote:

>    I must give my .02 here, to protect the inocent.
>                       To re-engineer the factory suspension
> of any vehicle is a major undertaking. Changing spring rates are
> a very subjective, to the use of the vehicle. So manufactures (VW)
> sets the system up to fit general porpuse. Combine this with quality
> of workmanship, and material requirements, and IMHO this project
> is for the rich to toy with.
>     So be forwarned, this is not a project that the guy who is
> using his Van to get to work in, should be playing with. Just like
> the Weld lock axles I warned about years ago.....
>
>             Eric                   86-VW4x4
>             vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
>             Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler
>
> On Tue, 8 Jun 1999, Steven X. Schwenk wrote:
>
> > Some stuff i forgot...
> >
> > (1) when measuring sag or static vehicle height, the
> > van should be unloaded.  However, ideally, we should
> > take one measurement fully unloaded and one fully
> > loaded.  the more time we put into this phase gathering
> > relevant data, the better the result will be.
> >
> > ALSO... just for accuracy's sake, and full
> > data....please after measuring the sag jack the van up
> > (use jack points on the body...not the axle/control
> > arm) and again make the measurement....this is
> > obviously with the wheel off the ground and the
> > suspension fully extended.  This will be the same for
> > all vans, so we only need one or two people to do this.
> >
> > If someone can also make the measurement with the
> > suspension fully compressed, that would be great, but
> > is not so easy to get.
> >
> > to recap:
> >
> > (1) measure sag with van empty (except for what is
> > always in it)
> > (2) measure sag loaded with your typical trip weight;
> > (not absolutely necessary, but will ensure more
> > accuracy....ple3ase try to take the extra 20 minutes to
> > do this...and there will be no more homework!)
> > (3) one or two people please measure with suspension
> > fully extended and wheel off the ground
> > (4) and can someone venture measuring distance with
> > suspension fully compressed...bottomed out
> >
> > PLEASE SPECIFY WHAT TYPE OF WHEELS YOU HAVE...STEEL OF
> > ALLOY VW OR SOMETHING NON-VW when making the
> > measurement from wheel well lip to lower rim lip.
> >
> > steve
> >