Date:         Wed, 20 Feb 2002 14:01:40 -0800
Reply-To:     developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM>
Subject:      New springs on my 1989 Vanagon with shims for the lefty camper
              sway
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Just a progress report on the completion of installing my new springs that
steve@syncro.com makes. I am thoroughly delighted with the results. My
vanagon now drives like a new vehicle. An added bonus is no more squeaks &
rattles up front. Some improvement due to new upper ball joints to be sure
but some also due to replacing old springs with 13 years of metal fatigue.

I encourage anyone upgrading their vanagons to contact Steve to reserve a
set of springs from his next production run. The VW dealer wants $626 for
stock springs and Steve's springs are $400 and better in my opinion.

The cornering of the vehicle with the new springs is remarkably sweet (much
less sway around corners.) The ride is smooth and drives like a new vehicle.
All wheels now measure 17 & 1/4 inches from the fender to the center of the
wheel cap. Formerly my front measurements were about 16 & 1/2 inches on the
right and 15 & 7/8 on the driver side. Rear measurements were 17 on the
right and about 16 & 1/2 on the driver side.

I received a lot of very useful information from Steve about the springs and
he may have saved me from making a big costly mistake as he recommended to
not go more than 1/4 inch for the front driver side shim. I was tempted to
add 1/2 inch of shims up front but he said it was not a one to one
relationship. If not for his encouragement and patient advice I would never
have installed the springs. Thank you Steve.

I had my VW dealer install the front springs and the two upper ball joints
which had ruptured boots. I installed the rear springs today myself (a piece
of cake.) I had the dealer put 1/4 inches of rubber shim material up top of
the driver side spring to compensate for my camper equipment and my body
weight since I am usually without a passenger. I put an extra 1/8 inch
rubber shim on both rear springs up top of the rubber spring seat because
Steve's springs are flatter and do not sit inside the formed rubber seat the
way the factory springs mould to the spring seat. On the left rear spring
(driver side) I added 5/8 extra shim material to compensate for the camper
equipment and lefty sway (one 3/8 inch polyethylene shim made from a kitchen
cutting board, and three 1/8 inch rubber shims for a total of 3/4 inches.)

I also left my Air Lift air bag system inside the new rear springs in place
but under inflated to 10 psi instead of suggested manufacturer's recommended
25 psi. this way if I have a large load in the future I can just pump up the
psi to 25 when needed.

I discovered another interesting fact when measuring the fronts. Exiting the
driver side my first measurement was 17" and the passenger side was about 17
& 3/8" which gave me some concern. I did not consider that my 225 pounds of
body weight on the left might give me a false reading. I next exited the
passenger side to redistribute weight. Measured again and both wheels
measured at 17 & 1/4" fender to center of wheel cap. Without a passenger one
will get a false measurement if you are looking for accuracy.

I hope anyone considering replacing your old worn out springs will find this
information useful. Contact me about rear spring replacement if you ever
need assistance or advice.

William Polowniak
1989 Vanagon GL
1988 Mercedes 300 SE