Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 07:55:34 -0700
Reply-To: Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: New Springs Report after Good Test
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
This is a report on my impressions/opinions on the new springs under my '90
Westy after a good workout on a road I've driven many times that provides a
challenge to any vehicle.
Last month I had a set of the Lift Springs from Van Cafe installed on my '90
Westy:
http://www.van-cafe.com/vanagon_parts.jsp?pa=p&p=859919852&pct=659798003&ct=502628078
I'm also running Bilstein shocks all the way around, have had those on for a
couple of years now. And one year old Haka CS 185R14 tires running at 43
front, 53 rear, on VW alloy wheels. Wheel alignment, done by the only
rleiable VW dealer shop around, is set to specs for 'medium load', that
setting at my request. Last week I took a trip up into the foothills of the
Cascade Mountains to an event I attend every year, the Table Mountain Star
Party, a gathering of amateur astronomers, at about 6.300 feet. The severe
part of the trip to Table Mountain is the last 12 miles on Forest Service
roads, the first 10 paved (sort of in places) one lane narrow road with
turnouts occasionaly to allow vehicles to pass. The last two miles are dirt
and badly washboarded in places because you are still climbing till you get
to the site of the star party. Over the last 20 years I've driven this road
at least once a year, sometimes three or four, in everything from an
Econoline Van to a Colt Vista but for the last 15 years in a Westy, first my
'85 and the last six years in my '90. This road has about as tight and
steep a bunch of curves, bends, and switch backs as you would want to drive.
And I'm driving with a fully loaded Westy, at least 500 pounds of equipment,
extra water, etc, outfitted to spend a week of dry camping.
The improvement in handling was very noticable. The Westy is noticably more
stable, flatter in the curves, more sure footed. I felt very comfortable
driving this road, especially coming down. The washboard section was
noticably less harsh (and the road noticably worse than a year ago) and over
all the van felt more in control all the way up and all the way down. And
BTW, it also is a more comfortable to drive on the freeway at highway
speeds.
So I'll sum up this way. When I switched to the alloy wheels several years
ago (6" width vs. 5 1/2" stock steel rims) I could feel a very, very subtle
improvemnt in handling. When I switched to the Bilstein shocks (replacing
the KYB (Kill Your Butt) shocks) I noticed a big difference in handling and
ride. The Haka tires made a small improvement in stability over the Agilis
they replaced. But the new springs really added the frosting to the cake.
I'm really happy with the ride, the stabilty and the control now. At one
time I drove my '85 Westy for about five years with the wrong tires, worn
springs and bad shocks (ignorance on my part, hadn't discovered the
VW/Vanagon related Internet lists yet) and the difference is so great that
it can't be described. In my opinion the overall cost (springs and
Bilsteins) has been well worth it. For those wondering how to improve the
ride I can recommend these springs,
| 
