Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Best shocks for a 88 westy? What about air-adustable?
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Smothers
Samba Member


Joined: August 12, 2008
Posts: 74

Smothers is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:55 pm    Post subject: Best shocks for a 88 westy? What about air-adustable? Reply with quote

Need to replace some worn out shocks and woundering what you all recommend for a 88 Westy? I will be pulling a small boat, so was thinking air-adjustable real shocks would be a good idea. Anyone have this set up ? Thanks
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
Ryan Keating
Samba Member


Joined: March 04, 2004
Posts: 217

Ryan Keating is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have bilsteins on the front of my 84 westy and monroe air shocks on the rear for the ride height to be equal to the front. They say they only fit syncros but they fit 2wd also.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
kevinbassplayer
Samba Member


Joined: June 15, 2006
Posts: 1041
Location: Nor-Cal
kevinbassplayer is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A lot of discussion of shocks have taken place here, I would have to say that usually the consensus is that the Bilsteins HD's are the way to go. I have them on my 87' Westy and their awesome
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Smothers
Samba Member


Joined: August 12, 2008
Posts: 74

Smothers is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, I just got an education on shocks for Westfalias. Finally talked to a shop that looked them up and said there are about 25 (original style shocks) left in the country. $250 each for front and $275 for rear. 3-4 day wait. LMAO

Are these the Bilstein shocks I should go with?

http://www.bilstein.com/mistore/keywordsearchf.php..._id=100484
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
Smothers
Samba Member


Joined: August 12, 2008
Posts: 74

Smothers is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, I just got an education on shocks for Westfalias. Finally talked to a shop that looked them up and said there are about 25 (original style shocks) left in the country. $250 each for front and $275 for rear. 3-4 day wait. LMAO

Are these the Bilstein shocks I should go with?

http://www.bilstein.com/mistore/keywordsearchf.php..._id=100484
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
floggingmolly
Samba Member


Joined: April 06, 2007
Posts: 1106
Location: San Diego, CA
floggingmolly is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do a search and look at the stickys as there has been a lot of discussion on these. I have Bilstein HDs on the front and Monroe (NAPA) coil over shocks on the rear to level out my saggy butt (no jokes please). I have a weekender which is a bit lighter than your Westy, and I find the combo of my tires and shocks to be a good match. Not too hard as some have experienced.

I got my front HD Bilsteins at Autozone for $99 each. Be careful about the ones on Ebay, I hear from people that they have problems cashing in on the lifetime warranty since the Ebay dealers are not "authorized" Bilstein dealers.
_________________
'85 Wolfsburg Weekender
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Smothers
Samba Member


Joined: August 12, 2008
Posts: 74

Smothers is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, , after many phone calls found some hd kyb shocks at a place called........................................... "smothers auto parts", gotta love it! $200 , and they called a vw shop who installed them. quite an improvement! I was afraid the pos shock I had were making the rest of the suspension suffer.

Now im road worthy.

btw the owner of the vw shop told me he would be able to get $19k for it; I just paid $14. Very Happy (of course this is north sf bay area, everything is pricey.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Classifieds Feedback
woggs1
Samba Member


Joined: February 22, 2007
Posts: 531
Location: South Pacifica California
woggs1 is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

floggingmolly wrote:
I have Bilstein HDs on the front and Monroe (NAPA) coil over shocks on the rear to level out my saggy butt


I have searched on this, but do the coil over shocks actually lift the rear, or do I need new springs?

Thanx
_________________
4 speed 88 Westy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
floggingmolly
Samba Member


Joined: April 06, 2007
Posts: 1106
Location: San Diego, CA
floggingmolly is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

woggs,

I found they did lift the rear. My springs appear to be original, but from what I hear the 85s always had a saggy butt issue. Rather than replacing my springs with new ones, I needed new rear shocks anyway, and r39o and riceye (and others) had some good threads about the coil overs. There is a seam that has to be bent a little to make some clearance to accomodate the coil, but I just rolled it over with a small mallet. Easy job.

The coils actually do provide some lift, as you might expect. I would say I got about a 1.5 inch lift from them, and I haven't seen any droop since then, nice and level. I am 18 inches from center of the wheel to the top of the wheel well now.

Look just to the right of the coil, that's the seam that has to be bent a little.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Here is a better photo:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Scott
_________________
'85 Wolfsburg Weekender
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
woggs1
Samba Member


Joined: February 22, 2007
Posts: 531
Location: South Pacifica California
woggs1 is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks floggingmolly (great band BTW). I will head out to NAPA flaps and report on the results. Very Happy
_________________
4 speed 88 Westy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
floggingmolly
Samba Member


Joined: April 06, 2007
Posts: 1106
Location: San Diego, CA
floggingmolly is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds good.

Didn't know much about the band til I got Molly. She had a sticker on the back window from the original owner, so I left it. Seemed fitting.
_________________
'85 Wolfsburg Weekender
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.