More travel out of FRONT SHOCKS??

[Energy Concepts]

Does the rubber donut on the shock shaft,
go on top or underneath the spring housing?

Thanks!

[snoop]

[JeffRobenolt]

The flutter is in the gas pedal, it could easily be a tranny or engine mount. Everything is new in the front suspension is new except the upper control arm bushings, they seemed tight.
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[idahoskier]

So I just installed the Monroe 58253s on my 85 Westy. My nose dive issues are reduced about 95% and the van is tighter in corners for sure. I have rear springs out of a syncro, which are stiffer than the stock fronts, and the van always felt a little unbalanced to me. My ride was always very good with the Bilsteins, just not stiff enough IMO. If you were coming from a lesser shock I would say the performance increase would indeed be jaw dropping. For me, it just did what I was hoping the Bilsteins would do and at 1/3 the cost . Not sure how they compare to Konis.

A few tips and a pic from my install might make it easier for the next person:

You will need different bolts for the bottom of the shock as the stock (13mm?) are just a bit too large to fit the Monroes. I used .5x4.5. I also used metal sleeves with just one washer per side to center the shock in the lower control arm. The sleeves came in 1.5" length and I just cut em in half -a perfect fit. It does take a bit of manipulation to get it all lined up.
I did not use the golf ring. With the ring in place the "bolt" on top of the shock was almost in contact with the wheel well when not at full compression. I used the bushing that came with the shock under the shock tower and the stock bushing with sleeve on top. Maybe its an 85 thing?

By far the most impressive $51 (Pair from Amazon shipped) Ive spent on the vans handling to date. As always YMMV. Thanks Kool Aid Man

Pic of Monroes compared to Bilsteins

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85 Westy w/ 2.2L Subaru
91 Westy w/ 2.5L Subaru - sold

[friggerone]

Hi!
Greetings from Norway, so please pardon my english

I was thinking about getting some new shocks for my 1990 syncro. Will these monroe shocks fit (Monroe 58253 and 58633)? I've by the way ordered 2 inch taller springs by trailmaster. Can I use the stock shock on these?

If these spring doesn't fit are there som cheap alternatives.

The syncro front shock have some kind of collar so the driveshaft comes clear. How do I come by this problem?

I was also wondering if anybody tried them off-road, and does the mounting hole take abuse since it's narrower than the original?

[snoop]

[rfoubi]

So im sold on doing this, the only thing im confused about is the "golf ring" or golf digest, or golf donut or Whatever The F you guys are talking about. The ebay link is expired, and typing golf donut into google gets a lot of funny results but not what i was looking for. Can someone clarify this for me? Or have other people done it the other way without the donut? Thanks

[shadetreetim]

Thanks Snoop. I do like the Monroe SensaTrac's. Fronts and Rears.

FWIW, I left the golf equipment in the golf bag.

The SensaTrac's come with the standard 2 rubber bushings, so I utilized them per a typical shock install, one above and one below the upper mounting tab.

I've racked up over 500 miles so far and they are doing great.
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Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!


'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5

[Jteerlink]

I also just finished installing the Monroe 58253s and paired them up with the Gowesty-Gucci lift springs and ball joint spacers. I have been driving on this setup for only 2 days but I am very impressed. I did not use the golf ring idea but the spacers sleeves are recommended to center the shock in the lower control arm (i tried to heat up and press out the old sleeves from the previous shock with no success).

Overall, I too have felt a decrease in nose dives at red lights and better cornering. Definitely recommend this setup! However, with a 19" measurement from hub to wheel well, I now am experiencing the slippery slope of lifting a Vanagon, but I'll take the good with the bad.

[snoop]

Glad you drank the coolaid Jteer; 'spect you will be too. Here's a link to the golf ring that I recommed using with the Sensatrac install (it perfectly nestles into both the cup of the shock tower and the top of the shock...perfectly coupling the two):
http://www.basspro.com/JEF-World-of-Golf-153;-Swin...googlebase
What it does is increase to 100% the contact area available between the shock and the shock tower; without it, contact area is about 10% of available...obviously stress moments on the shock tower at the mounting bolt are about an order of magnitude less with the golf ring in place compared to not using it; and importantly, more closely approximates the magnitude of stress moment that the OEM configuration produces (with about 80% of available area in contact). The golf ring also eliminates any precession (wobble) of the bolt within the shock tower, thereby minimizing any fatiguing of metal at the mounting position as well as eliminating the same between the shock shaft and the shock body...seals should last longer.

Having stated that, on a critical spectrum, where 10 is changing fuel lines and 1 is polishing your wheels, I'd SWAG using the golf rings with the Sensatracs about a 5, about equivalent to changing your transaxle oil every 30K, maybe not even that important...after about 100K miles of running without 'em, it might creep up to a 6.

Note that you're driving a weekender, you may not see as much settling as I , and presumably other westy drivers have with the GW lift springs (although my van is on the earlier H&R versions)...my van's at 18.5" now (started at 19")...let me know if I can help with any lifted 2WD issues that you run into.

Cheers!

mike
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87 Westy Camper

[Jteerlink]

Snoop, you have been a fantastic resource through this process and I appreciate your input and research - the coolaid is sooo sweet!

After reading your detailed need for the golf weight ring I might reconsider it after all, as I am going to have to remove and re install the shock since I forgot to install the stock rubber bumper cap that sits on top of the shock - in your opinion, do I really need this part?

A 5.5 on the "Snoop Swag Spectrum" is enough to sway me!!

[snoop]

Hiya Jteer,

Thanks for the kind words, really happy to be of service to others.

Funny you should ask about the bumper cap...it won't fit over the Sensatrac (it's what provides ~80% contact in the OEM configuration)...it was because it wouldn't fit that I started looking for ways to re-establish that contact area with the Sensatrac...long story short, the golf ring works perfectly!

Daaayyuummm, she's puuuurty!

Enjoy that sweet syncfaux! Gonna get lots of inquiries about whether it's 4 wheel drive now...

Best,

mike
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87 Westy Camper

[Jteerlink]

Ahhh, now I totally understand the rings usefulness. I was thinking it was installed topside! It's all perfectly clear now!

[r39o]

Jteer,

Experience tells me you gotta do something to keep from eating CVs on such proudly high sitting van.

How high (center of wheel to fender lip) are you?????

-Walt
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"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

[davevickery]

I did the same thing. Purplepeopleeater suggested these in another thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=495453&start=40 and I decided to try these up front instead of some Moog 5660 springs. Here are pics of what I did. I used one of 2 supplied rubber bushings and the 2 dished washers on the shock as shown (under the top mount) and above I used the stock top rubber bushing and plate and an extra snug washer up top. It could use a bushing up there as you don't use the OE sleeve with shocks and the mounting hole is a little large for the shock post. It's easy to see from the photo what I did. I may try those golf rings. I used washers at the bottome to center the shock, 2 bushings would have been better but washers work fine. As someone said you do have to buy a different bolt for the bottom as the lower shock mount is 1/2 not 13mm wide.

These give a better ride on my 87 westy. Even though it lifted the front about 1.25 inches, the ride is a little firmer and noticably less sway in corners. Definitely better and the extra lift is great. I used the Monroe 58632 in rear and they are a perfect match to these front shocks. I am around 17" from 15 3/4 before.

[r.e.wing_fc3s]

are most of those golf rings the same dimensions? i can grab a couple locally but want to make sure...
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Reference Automotive: NW Washingtons Vanagon Specialist. (360)366-6965. referenceautomotive.com

[tclark]

Just wanted to post a consise parts list
1. Monroe 58253 if using 2wd lift springs

2. Replace oem lower shock bolt with .5"w x 4.5"l bolt
Grade 8 or better

3. Add a .5"w x 3/4" l collar either side of the lower shock mount on the above bolt to keep the shock centered

4. Replace oem shock bumper that fit on top of the shock under the control arm with a golf practice rubber ring
OD= 2.6", ID= 1.4", H=0.65"

5a. replace the top shock bushing/plate with monroe supplied to bushing & inverted washer plate
Or
5b. get new oem top shock bushing/plate

Ok disclaimer i want to do this and i waded over this few times looking for a simple parts list can anyone that has done this verify
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89 Westy with TDI AHU 1.9 manual lots of mods
85 GL 1.9, auto (for sold)

[snoop]

[davevickery]

[tclark]

All
I c davev's subjective feedback can i get a show of hands with ppl using the monroe 58253 && the gw 1.5" lift springs
(If you alrdy post here just ignore
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89 Westy with TDI AHU 1.9 manual lots of mods
85 GL 1.9, auto (for sold)