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Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:42 am

Wheels: Alloy SA Rhein 15"
Tires: Michellin HydroEdge 215/70-15

Springs: early run of 2WD Syncro.org
one 3/8" spring top shim on the passenger rear side. One 1/2" and one 3/8" shim on the driver rear side.
Shocks: Konis

I need to re-measure ride height after Konis were installed.

Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:48 am

Steelhead wrote: To set the record straight, that wasn't me helping you in the rain. I think I only helped eat sausages, drink beer and stand around under the canopy talking shop. Name tags next time...

Nice group. Makes me look forward to doing it again when it is dry/sunny.

Ooops, agree we need name tags! well, thank you mystery man

Mon Mar 26, 2012 1:37 pm

Your welcome.

Mon Mar 26, 2012 2:58 pm

madspaniard wrote: syncrodoka wrote: If this doesn't happen due to rain the PNW crowd will never let you live it down. :P They got nothing on us :lol: It never stopped raining.
I like the green tint of juan's pics.. Really gives it a PNW "feel".

Mon Mar 26, 2012 3:36 pm

gnd. clearance data on those combos?

anybody unhappy with theirs?

Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:27 pm

Now that;'s the spirit guys , rain or shine you guys are really hard core Vanagon addicts. I love it , Very cool. Keep up the good times. I'll have to attend next time as I think I missed out on a lot of fun. Cheers Burley

Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:18 pm

Thanks to everyone for a fun meet. It was nice meeting some locals and checking out other vans!

Here's my van:

Height: 17" front, 17.5" rear

Wheels: Unknown 6Jx15 ET45 (Audi 5000 winter wheels?)
Spacers: none (+8mm front because of rotor hat)
Tires: Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S 215/75R15 C
Tire pressure: 40 PSI front, 46 PSI rear

Springs: Moog 5660 front, SS-6 bags rear @ ~65 PSI
Shocks: Koni red, front 0.5 turns out, rear 0.75 turns out
Anti-sway: Front Whiteline 25mm, rear none
Brakes: DIY front G60, rear LT-40 cylinders

Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:14 pm

randywebb wrote: gnd. clearance data on those combos?

As requested..
Here's mine:

Rear control arm hanger - 13.5"ish

Front header bracket - 12.75"ish

moustache bar - 13.5"

front steering cross member - 13.25"
spare tire clamshell removed

randywebb wrote: anybody unhappy with theirs?
I like mine quite well.. but I've got work to do on tire clearances up front.
Will likely roll the fender lip and may space up 5/8" for the summer to see if that will stop the top of wheel well rub/cut.
May also space the shock for shorter bump stop.

The rear is doing nicely.. and am, so far, content with the Monroe MaxAirs (the only link in the chain that I am not confident in,... yet).

Mon Apr 02, 2012 7:02 pm

OK, so I figure I'd post in this thread so I don't start yet another conversation about suspensions.

My van is #2 in the photos I posted from the meet up. All stock, with a nice dose of Westy lean.

After talking with j_dirge on our way back from Richmond, I ordered a set of moog 5660 springs for the front. They are now being installed and I'll see what they look/feel like in a couple of days.

My plan was to install the moog 5660 springs in the front, the new-to-me Bilstein shocks I got from madspaniard all around, and keep the rear stock springs for now. I made a few spacers for my mechanic to install, in order to level the back.

Today though, a friend offered a set of Syncro stock rear springs. For free! :) NOT syncro.org springs, just the stock rear springs that come with a Syncro.

From what I understand and from the results of extensive search here, this will lift the van, and that lift might be excessive. CVs will be working at a steeper angle and that might shorten their life although that seems like informed speculation at most. Also, and more important, the stock shocks don't have enough travel and I suppose they'd overextend.

So my question is: should I get those Syncro springs in my 2wd Westy? Would the Bilsteins do better with them than the stock shocks?

I could keep the stock springs + spacers in the back for a week or so and then figure it out, but I have the chance of dropping off the Syncro springs with the mechanic tomorrow so maybe I should go for it.

Any comments on this specific combination (moog 5660 front, Syncro rear, Bilstein shocks all around) is welcome.

Thanks!

j

Mon Apr 02, 2012 7:46 pm

juanb wrote:
...but I have the chance of dropping off the Syncro springs with the mechanic tomorrow so maybe I should go for it.

Any comments on this specific combination (moog 5660 front, Syncro rear, Bilstein shocks all around) is welcome.

Thanks!

j
Rear springs are real easy to swap in and out.
I'd say go for it. Have the mechanic put the syncro springs in. You can sort out the shocks later. Shocks can be swapped easily enough. Especially the rears.

My Bilstein HDs handled 17" up front with no problem.. But I sure did like Presslab's Moog 5660 with Konis combo.

I am curious to see what the ride height is.. of the new-to-you rear springs in union with the Moog 5660s up front..

Mon Apr 02, 2012 7:56 pm

Juan

I think Presslab tried the Moog 5660 and Bilstein HD in the front and found that combo too soft. Based on my own experience I think Bilsteins do great with stock springs and probably with GoWesty springs.

Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:26 pm

compilation

Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:33 pm

madspaniard wrote: Juan

I think Presslab tried the Moog 5660 and Bilstein HD in the front and found that combo too soft. Based on my own experience I think Bilsteins do great with stock springs and probably with GoWesty springs.

Can anyone tell me what the stock spring rate is ? and the different 2wd uninstalled front spring lengths please. I know an 84 is the longest and provides the tallest ride height.
I do believe given these stock specs I can help with some spring selections.
I have made some interesting spring application discoveries in my research on a different custom project I am currently working on for a customer.
Once we have the springs figured out the rest is easy.
Burley Motorsports upper control arms make getting a proper alignment a non issue , no matter how much lift you have, or lowered , slammed too.
Our arms are easy to install, we make 4 different 2wd production versions as well as custom orders. Check these out and also read our reviews.
http://burleysmotorsports.com/index.php?main_page=...qvpm4uj392

Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:46 pm

randywebb wrote: compilation

Van 6 is an 87 with stock westy springs, and 185r14c kumho tires...

Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:45 pm

madspaniard wrote: Juan

I think Presslab tried the Moog 5660 and Bilstein HD in the front and found that combo too soft. Based on my own experience I think Bilsteins do great with stock springs and probably with GoWesty springs.

How can this be? From looking at past threads, it seems like if anything, the 5660s are stiffer than stock, is this not so?

Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:51 pm

juanb wrote: So my question is: should I get those Syncro springs in my 2wd Westy? Would the Bilsteins do better with them than the stock shocks?

I ran Syncro rear springs for a little while. The 2WD shock won't have much downward travel at all with those in there; the topping out was pretty annoying and not good for things. In any case the rear will be too high compared to the front. I then, uh, modified the Syncro springs to lower them, and they actually worked quite well, but I wouldn't recommend modifying them like I did. :lol:

For the rear the easiest DIY options are the cutting-board spacers and/or coil-over shocks. And then there are the pivot trailing arms, air bags, etc. for the more ambitious DIY.

madspaniard wrote: I think Presslab tried the Moog 5660 and Bilstein HD in the front and found that combo too soft. Based on my own experience I think Bilsteins do great with stock springs and probably with GoWesty springs.

Yes. The Bilstein shocks did not have enough rebound damping for the stiffer 5660 springs. They were not terrible, but not the controlled ride that I wanted.

Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:58 pm

burleymotorsports wrote: Can anyone tell me what the stock spring rate is ?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=443308#5003638

Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:17 am

presslab wrote: juanb wrote: So my question is: should I get those Syncro springs in my 2wd Westy? Would the Bilsteins do better with them than the stock shocks?

I ran Syncro rear springs for a little while. The 2WD shock won't have much downward travel at all with those in there; the topping out was pretty annoying and not good for things. In any case the rear will be too high compared to the front.
Hi Presslab.

Do you recall how much taller the syncro springs were compared to the Moog 5660s?

Juan will be loaded down on his way to Argentina.. I may be old, old school :wink: .. but I'd be inclined to be a little taller in the rear to handle the expedition load.

Your thoughts?

The Moogs are 17" in front.. The stock syncro springs were 17.5", IIRC.

Tue Apr 03, 2012 12:02 pm

Hi sf Vanagon peeps
Just a heads up that there is a Vanagon at the Salvation Army Drop Off Location on mission, I was told it's not sale till it passes smog.
the rear window on the passengers side and the hatch glass are busted out.
I'll post some cell pics asap.

EDIT: I cant get the photos off my cell sorry

Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:57 pm

j_dirge wrote:

Juan will be loaded down on his way to Argentina.. I may be old, old school :wink: .. but I'd be inclined to be a little taller in the rear to handle the expedition load.

Even given that, I'd be very hesitant to run with a spring/shock combination that overextends the shock that much.