TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Aug 04, 2017 6:36 pm

Hi to all,

I am planning to swap my stock 2.1 L to a Subaru 2.5 L on next year.
(this is a vanagon full camper 1986 - automatic)

Prior to that, I plan to change the springs, mainly to get the same height and stability when I have full load and with the increasing weight on the rear with the new Subaru engine.

Do you have any suggestion about springs who get pretty good result on keeping the same height and improve the stability even with an increasing charge?

GW springs?

Schwenk springs?

Many thanks in advance,

Martin

Sat Aug 05, 2017 4:51 am

Jake de Villiers wrote: And I remember my 2.1 with everything but the muffler being ~290 lbs. when I shipped it. The Subaru SOHC 2.5 is ~320 lbs. source

Sat Aug 05, 2017 4:59 am

Thanks Jean-Marc.

Not a big weight increase to deal with, that's what I understand...

Sat Aug 05, 2017 7:43 am

If you are just looking for a firmer ride, I recommend the Moog 5658 springs for the front. They would be just about the same length as your 86 springs but are firmer. They are easy to install without a spring compressor.

I tried some of those in a Westy and it gives a front ride height of 17" fender to axle which is probably about 1" taller than you are now. I matched them to GW rear zero lift springs but you could also just add spacers in the rear, or get some new rear springs from BusDepot which are also supposed to put you at around 17". You can shim the back pretty easy to level it. That ride height is nice for extra ground clearance and fitting bigger tires. It handled very well even though it sat up higher.

The Syncro.org 2wd springs are o.k. according to most people but I really like the Moogs I got off Amazon for the front and they were cheaper.

If you wanted lower, there are other options. And I would not go with any of the 2wd Lift springs, bad track record for a lot of people and more complications from being too tall.

Sat Aug 05, 2017 7:46 am

You don't need new springs at all but bigger brakes are recommended!! 8)

Sat Aug 05, 2017 10:42 am

Jake de Villiers wrote: You don't need new springs

I agree. At most you will want to use shims to make the rear not sit lower than the front

Start by taking measurements now, fender lip to wheel center, at all 4 corners. Both with the van empty, and with the van loaded the way you use it.

New springs do not in any way make a Westy level at all 4 corners, if it was not level to begin with. The reason is that different corners of a Westy have different load weights on them.

The left rear is heaviest, you will want a shim there. If the right rear is low, you will want a shim there too (and an extra one on left rear).

So buy 3 shims, 2 for left rear, one for right rear. NOT new springs..

Before you start shimming, make sure you are using good (new) shocks. Shocks wear out and sag. It is NOT the springs causing the sag.

A Subaru motor is only 30 pounds heavier, not significant.. camping gear in the rear cargo area can be more.

Sat Aug 05, 2017 3:01 pm

thanks to all !

Tue Jan 30, 2018 2:25 pm

I believe the statement that the sag is due to bad shocks is in error. Shocks do not provide any lift unless they are air or coil-over shocks. The "newer" gas charged shocks seem like they might provide lift, but one can compress them by hand so the lift is negligible.

The nitrogen is added for two reasons. The first is to reduce foaming in the shock oil. The second is that nitrogen doesn't expand and contract as much with temperature changes-