Wouldn't late model springs be a good = low buck alterntative? Some of the later factory springs are supposed to be 30 mm = shorter with the same or slightly improved handeling. You can also use factory = shocks. I would think they'd be easy to find, and relatively cheap.

Chopping, cutting etc. will ruin any = handleing the van has.

----- Original Message -----

From: Gary Stearns

Sent: Friday, March 23, 2001 = 7:21 AM

Subject: Re: Lowering the = vanagon

If you look at the design of the rear = springs, you'll see that you really can't cut coils without ruining the = spring's ability to locate itself in the mounts. Similar in the front, VW = made the springs so that the last coil on each end has a flattened pitch to = fit the mount. I have tried cutting coils, you can't make it work. = The only way if you are stuck on the butchering technique is heating and collapsing the coils. You have to know how to do this, or you'll = wind up with great small boat anchors that look like springs. I suggest = a set of the lowering springs available through one of the list vendors (stay = away from the H&R Springs though, poorly designed). Finally, any = lowering is going to require upgraded shocks. Stock or worn out shocks can't = handle it. Riding a kangarooing Vanagon might be fun, but it's also = dangerous.

----- Original Message -----

Sent: Thursday, March 22, = 2001 8:31 PM

Subject: Lowering the = vanagon

I own a 1984 = vanagon and was looking for some info on lowering the

low buck way (cutting the coil = springs). I have done this before to other

vehicles with success, but i had = the proper info from others that have

worked out all the problems they = came across while doing these projects.

I have no = knoledge of the vanagon as far as whats going to happen

with camber (+ -). I also need to = know how many coils to cut and still

keep tension on the spring when the = van is jacked up off the gruond.

Has anyone done this = or is this a project i should just forget about.