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captainpartytime
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2005
Posts: 715
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
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 Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 3:33 pm Post subject: 85 Westy springs in 89 Wolfsburg -before/after pics- |
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Well here's my van with 85 westy springs holding her up. The overall clearance (bottom of wheel well to center of cap)
Carat springs ---------- Westy Springs
Front: 15 1/4" --------------17"
Rear: 15 3/4" --------------17"
Before
After
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-Kerry
1982 turbo diesel Westfalia
Last edited by captainpartytime on Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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wbx
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2005
Posts: 1254
Location: Monterey, CA
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| Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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Looks like the driver got a bit taller, too! 
How does the ride compare?
p.s. nice bianchi! My bianchi 'crosser is setup fixie right now 
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'84 Westy (first owner).......but my daily driver has pedals
My "perspective" mantra:
A Volkswagen Vanagon is just a material thing,
As such, it is of the earth,
And if i need to, I can let my Van go. |
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captainpartytime
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2005
Posts: 715
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
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| Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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Just took her out on the freeway loaded up with the wife and kids. Man she rides nice (the van). Not nearly as harsh hitting bumps. I also took it out on a dirt road...no more hitting the nose!!! I love it. Next are some Bilstein shocks...although I can't decide whether to go with the HD's or the Touring's.
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-Kerry
1982 turbo diesel Westfalia |
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1621
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006
Posts: 2174
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| Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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Looks great, I hope those springs last you for some time. As for the Bilsteins, I really enjoy the HDs, but then again that's on a Westy. Still, I also try to err on the side of being a little stiffer in the suspension given the propensity for these vehicles to sway in anything but the slightest side wind. Looks good, and good luck.
Lundy
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'85 Westy |
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vwjedi
Samba Member
Joined: November 29, 2005
Posts: 1463
Location: G-ville, FL - hopefully on a trail.
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 7:20 am Post subject: |
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Hmmmmm? Where have I seen this set-up befor? A Wolfsburg with '85 Westy springs, 14" alloys with BFG's and a roof rack? It's coming to me, oh I know!! In my driveway. 
Looks good Captain, you will grow old befor those tires need replacing, I have over 15k miles on them and they don't show a bit of wear yet. I also went with the "light duty" Bilsteins and am very happy with the ride on a GL, we are quite a bit lighter than Westies.
Who's going to High Coutry Bus Festival?
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1987 Wolfsburg T25 still riding out. A bunch of other VW's passed on... |
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1621
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Joined: May 15, 2006
Posts: 2174
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 9:04 am Post subject: |
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| vwjedi wrote: |
| I also went with the "light duty" Bilsteins and am very happy with the ride on a GL, we are quite a bit lighter than Westies. |
What is the weight difference between the Westies and the standard GLs? I thought I read somewhere it was about 400 pounds. Is this accurate?
Even still, I don't think you can go wrong in your selection between Bilstiens. I can't imagine the difference between the shocks will be that great given all the various forces at play in the suspension.
Lundy
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'85 Westy |
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1621
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006
Posts: 2174
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| Lundy wrote: |
| vwjedi wrote: |
| I also went with the "light duty" Bilsteins and am very happy with the ride on a GL, we are quite a bit lighter than Westies. |
What is the weight difference between the Westies and the standard GLs? I thought I read somewhere it was about 400 pounds. Is this accurate?
Even still, I don't think you can go wrong in your selection between Bilstiens. I can't imagine the difference between the shocks will be that great given all the various forces at play in the suspension.
Lundy |
Nevermind, I found the answer to my own question at Syncro.org.
The Camper Syncro's all-up weight tips in at a hefty 4000 pounds. We look forward to the day when advancing technology reduces the 330 pounds that the Syncro option adds to the 3670-pound Vanagon Camper, which itself adds 350 pounds atop the base Vanagon. In Volkswagen's defense, part of the added weight comes from protective cages and a skid plate placed around the 4wd components. In this case, a hundred pounds of prevention is worth hundreds of dollars of cure.
Lundy
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'85 Westy |
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PDXWesty
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Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6247
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 9:11 am Post subject: |
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| I recently measured the ride height on an 85 westy. It sat 18-18.5 in the front and 17 in the back - nose up. I was thinking about putting 85 springs on my 89 westy but didn't want it to ride higher in the front. does anyone know if the suspension setup is the same? If I installed these springs on my van would it ride nose up as well? |
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vwjedi
Samba Member
Joined: November 29, 2005
Posts: 1463
Location: G-ville, FL - hopefully on a trail.
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 11:34 am Post subject: |
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probly so, my Van actually sits quite level since most of the Westaflia cabinet weight falls over rear end and middle, I think maybe going stock springs in front might not be bad for ya?
out of focus side shot:
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1987 Wolfsburg T25 still riding out. A bunch of other VW's passed on... |
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captainpartytime
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2005
Posts: 715
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
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| Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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You can always put some spacers in the back to even out the ride, it looks pretty simple. Some people have installed the air ride system in the back to customize their ride height. I couldn't be happier with this modification. It actually rides smoother on the freeway!
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-Kerry
1982 turbo diesel Westfalia |
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