GoWesty 2" Syncro Springs Install Help

[wwVanayakagon]

So I am working on my van over christmas and I have some springs to install.

Well let me re-phrase this. I have been working on putting these #(*@ springs in my van for over 12 hours now and its almost christmas.

Someone has to have some trick that i am missing, a special model spring compressor or something that I have missed.

Oh I want to get them in without unhooking the lower control arm from the strut or the steering stabilizer from the assembly that is another pain in the ass to deal with.

My problem is the height of the compressor rods and then of course the amount of compression that I can achieve to fit it in.

J
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86' 3.3L SVX Syncro - (battleCat) - Sold
84' GL - (Chuckie) - Sold
80' Westy - (Taylor) - Sold

[Dogpilot]

The no tool way to compress the springs is a little risky, but it actually works. The plus side is there is no offending hardware to get in the way.

Get about 6 hose clamps. Get them long enough to go from one spiral to another. Put the spring on a floor jack and use the weight of a vehicle to compress it a bit as you attempt to jack the vehicle with the spring between the jack and the vehicle. Don't expect to do this a lot and flatten the spring. Now that it is compressed, put the hose clamps around the spring and tighten them all. This will hold the spring in the compressed state.

Put the spring in place and then put the jack in place to jack up the arm to compress it some to get the tension off the clamps and undo them. Did I say this is risky? Well it it is, but it does work. So use all precaution in doing this, you can hurt yourself if you have anything go wrong, so try it at your own risk.

Oh yeah, Merry Xmas!
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Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

[spaeth]

I installed John Wessels coil over kit on my Syncro without spring compressors by using the vehicle as a the spring compressor. It did require removing the lower shock bolt. This is also somewhat risky, but probably not quite as scary as the one listed above.

Jack up your rig and firmly secure it on jack stands. I then undo the top nut on the strut and the upper ball joint. I use a large 20-21mm impact socket with a piece of rubber on it to jack up under the lower part of the shock. Undo the lower shock bolt and then lower the shock out and drop the spring down. The nice thing with this method is that the spring and the shock are contained and even if something slips they can't go flying. You are also lowering things down from the end of a jack handle so you are not too close to all of that force.

You can try this at your own risk. It worked for me. It took me about 4 hrs. for the first side and only about an hour for the second side. I also took the brake calipers off to give me more room to work and it was well worth the effort.

Sometimes trying to leave more things connected only complicates things.

Good luck (it is not fun no matter how well it goes),
Craig

[wwVanayakagon]

Great ... Just what I needed.

More Tips on doing it with the jack stand... Doh!

I was hoping for some super duper easy method using a tool that only cost $1.99 and can be found in the kitchen isle of any safeway.

Looks like I am taking more crap apart to get these guys in there.

I guess the poor little Cat is going to have to wait till after christmas for his makeover. Bummer

Thanks for the tips.
_________________
86' 3.3L SVX Syncro - (battleCat) - Sold
84' GL - (Chuckie) - Sold
80' Westy - (Taylor) - Sold

[spaeth]

I tried a couple of different ways without seperating as much stuff. That is what took me 4 hours. If I would have just gone ahead and taken it apart as far as I should, to begin with, I would have saved a bunch of time in the end.

I don't think there is an easy way on this.

Craig

[vwlovr]

please take pics of your install and post them!!!

i'm gonna get these as well and i'm on the fence on if i want to do them since it sounds like a pita. i plan on doing OME's while i'm at it, and although i'm decent with a wrench, i have more patience with motorcycles

[patna]

Off topic but on the vanayakagon [ with stripes ] . You running ML320 rims there ? How big those tires ? Per Loogy , I'll be using 30mm spacers .. any issues with rub ? Thanks and Happy Hogfather , Julian.

[GriffithBuilt]

[tencentlife]

I won't comment on the particulars of the Syncro installation, but if a spring compressor will help, Autozone and doubtless some of the other mainline FLAPS lend tools like that FOR FREE. They also sell a pair of bolt-type spring compressors that would be a good bit more secure than the hose clamp method for, I dunno, maybe twenty bucks? I know they're cheap, but not as cheap as a free loaner.

Anyway, best of luck. Like the wheels!
_________________
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Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is death to doctrine.

[goffoz]

Something you might consider,since you have a Syncro with big wheels
You need a "high lift" jack, and it can be used as a spring compressor.
......most good ones, and even the HF one, will pull as well as push.
I've used 8ga. wire to tie the coils closed,use three separate evenly spaced loops...for safety...they won't all let go at the same time
There is a bit of a method to the wire...ranchers call it a "cinch" it actually winches the loop closed.
After your in cut the wire and discard it.

.... I didn't think of band clamps at the time,my Father showed me how to use wire to hold everything....its kind of a reflex now
come to think of it he "cinched" almost every hose too

I haven't done this instal on a Syncro, yet, but I've done a few others
and it worked out fine
just some ideas
cheers
Owen

[Dogpilot]

I know the hose clamp method sounds horrible, it was a field fix for a broken strut we came up with. One can be quite inventive in middle of nowhere Africa. To correct a misconception, each hose clamp takes only a small amount of take up,about 1/4". So the load is spread out among the 6.

The really risky part is compressing the spring. However, if tools are available, and loners can be got, go for the purpose designed item. Besides, you can also get the pickle forks and such to separate your ball joints so you have better access to the assembly, which is the crux of your problem in the first place.

All said, if your in the middle of nowhere, need to fix it, and have lots of weight to compress things with (read: lots of people) the hose clamp method works great.
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

[wwVanayakagon]

Thanks again... I am holding off on the install till this weekend.

I had to put it back together to drive the inlaws around... Can you believe they did not want to be driven around in my 1984!!!

I will take some shots and explain the method that I am going to use. I'll start from stage 1 and explain all my steps ... I think I have a new way that will be alot safer that the Jack Stand methods but it will require an Air Compressor or several strapping young lads!

Till this weekend Thanks for the help and enjoy my latest find.

Small Car releases the hot new Vanagon differential
http://www.smallcar.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=116

But oops they forgot to edit the image and now you can go straight to the MFG that sells them to the public.
http://www.peloquins.com/products.html

Wonder why they need over 25% markup from retail prices? Probably just a matter of time before they rip off the design and farm it out anyways
_________________
86' 3.3L SVX Syncro - (battleCat) - Sold
84' GL - (Chuckie) - Sold
80' Westy - (Taylor) - Sold