TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:26 pm

Hi Everyone,
Time for me to play with my suspension some more, as I'm sick of the van wobbling when it catches an edge on the highway or being blown all over passing through the gorge. I also like to carry 2 15' kayaks and those just act like a sail up there. I currently have a set of one year old alko shocks from BD that are okay but seem to be loosening up. They don't bottom out or any thing but not as frim as when I installed them. So what's my best bet for 87 2WD westy just add sway bars or do I need to replace the springs and some bilstiens first? I have Nokian WR C 205/25/15 tires so those are good and ball joints are goods.

Thanks!

Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:39 pm

i added sway bars on the front and rear of my westy from aircooled.net and bilstein shocks and it transformed my van. John over at aircooled set me up. I have a suby engine and the higher speeds I needed help.

Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:13 am

Thanks Ryan, I also have an EJ22 and so I think that's what's making me look for a more controlled ride. Thanks Again. sounds like I'll start with sway bars and then add the bilsteins.

Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:41 am

With the Bilstein HDs up front, I immediately noticed about 75% less lean during cornering. They are really nice for stability.

Thu Aug 21, 2008 3:48 pm

Hey Island Westy, I haven't seen those Nokian WR C tires, are they new? Do you know if those are summer or winter tires? Any information or even feedback on what you think about those tires would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:54 pm

Before you buy sway bars check your front suspension. Check the ball joints, upper and lower, a-arm bushes, tire rods and check your front wheel bearings for tightness. Did I miss anything? Oh, the steering coupler.

Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:25 pm

I added sway bars which I purchased through JC Whitney in 1987 after my first long trip in my '86 Wolfsburg Westfalia. I don't know if they still have them, but their supplier was in Florida as I recall. The front bar is 1" in diameter and the rear is 7/8". The original front bar was 5/8" and there was no back sway bar. I always have a canoe or sea kayaks on top when I travel and the sway bars took a lot of terror out of strong side wind. I still have my KYB shocks, but next time I feel rich, I'll replace them with Bilsteins.

Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:05 pm

Hi Josh,
On those nokians WR C they are new they have replaced the CS so they are all season like the CS with the snowflake on them the rubber is very soft but the side walls are nice. I really like them they give a nice controlled ride and they have been much better in mud / wet grass then my old michelin agilis.