Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 09:18:16 -0700
Reply-To: Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steve@SCHWENK-LAW.COM
Subject: Re: 2WD Westy springs - follow up
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
The fronts are not progressive, the rears are. Betts
spring near SF is currently filling an order for about
10 pairs of syncro front springs. I took a front and
rear spring to them for testing. They can make new
rears, but mine are fine and not sagging and the
stiffness is fine. The rear spring is both progressive
and wound out of wire that decreases in diameter at the
ends....very expensive to reproduce. Betts can do a
straight wound rear spring no problem and cheaply.
They can also do a progressive rear, but it will entail
a loss of some travel at the very end of the travel
rtange before bottoming out. To get around this, you
have to go with the original tapered wire design, which
is prohinbitively expensive unless you are having a
large number of springs made. If your rears are shot,
try a wrecking yard first, unless you want a
non-progressive wound rear. If 10 people wanted them,
Betts would probably charge about $100 a pair ...same
as the fronts they are making now.
steve
Michael Snow wrote:
>
> Someone please correct me if I am wrong about this, but I believe
> that Vanagons have progressive-rate springs. Though my VW
> experience is limited, I have never seen a set of progressive
> springs that worked very well on a truck. The lighter part of
> the spring always sags and takes a set, leaving a too-short
> single rate spring. My Westy has serious spring sag in the rear,
> which I attribute to the usual progressive spring sag.
>
> I have contacted several manufacturers about making Vanagon
> springs. Most would not touch them. There is a company in San
> Diego (National Spring) that can make them, but they have another
> firm in the San Francisco area wind all their coils. They have a
> great reputation in the 4x4 world.
>
> I would be interested in single rate, stock height, stock
> stiffness springs.
>
> Mike Snow
> 1982 Westy Diesel
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List
> > [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> > Of Todd Last
> > Sent: Sunday, September 26, 1999 14:44
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: 2WD Westy springs - follow up
> >
> >
> > I previously posted to see if there was any interest
> > in 2wd Westy
> > Springs. I'm trying to gather some information to see
> > what kind of
> > spring would be most desired by the members of the
> > group - with the
> > possibility of a group purchase in mind.
> >
> > If you think you may be interested in new springs for
> > your 2wd Westy,
> > please email me with the following info:
> >
> > If new 2WD springs were offered would you like:
> >
> > 1.) Exact Stock replacement springs - same height and stiffness
> > 2.) Same height as stock springs but slightly stiffer - say 15%
> > 3.) Same stiffness as stock springs but slightly higher (4-5cm)
> > 4.) Both Taller and stiffer than the stock springs
> >
> > Also, please let me know what model year Westy you have
> >
> >
> > Let me know which, if any of these appeal to you.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Todd Last
> > '88 Westy
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