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insyncro
Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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 Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| JN99 wrote: |
Nope, but there are plenty of level Westies out there with no spacers so I attribute most of the lean then to aging/sagging springs. |
The level Westies do not have new progressive springs in them  |
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r39o
Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005
Posts: 9800
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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| JN99 wrote: |
| Nope, but there are plenty of level Westies out there with no spacers so I attribute most of the lean then to aging/sagging springs. |
NO,
We could not get them to align well even new due to lean.
They leaned since new.
Some worse then others based on how much crap they had in the van.
(just like bad heads under warranty and on and on......)
_________________
"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) |
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rcook52459
Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2011
Posts: 492
Location: PORTLAND ORE
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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put GW zero lift springs on a month ago.emailed vancafe about them and they knocked $15 off price.maybe raised van 1in all 4 corners real close to 17 1/2 inches now. [/img]
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85 westy tiico conversion.auto trans triumph TR250 1980 Suzuki GS1000l |
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nemobuscaptain
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 3874
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Bordhead
Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2011
Posts: 31
Location: Morrisburg, ON
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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How do your new springs ride?
To the OP - which front shocks did you install?
My zero-lift springs are being installed now - just curious about this before I get my van back.
Thanks! |
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JN99
Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2011
Posts: 96
Location: Redmond, WA
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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| nemobuscaptain wrote: |
| JN99 wrote: |
| Nokian Tires (205/70 15XL Entyre rated at 100T currently at 49psi front, 51psi rear). |
Why so high? I prefer a firm ride too but I think your probably just riding on the middle part of the tire.
I don't recall the tp for the 205/70/14 tire but I think I'd start there. |
I'm not sure actually but I recall reading something here on Samba about it and decided to start with the psi near max for the tire and go from there. I haven't really had them very long at all and the ride is okay though a little harsh as I mentioned so I will likely reduce but to what I'm not sure. I don't know what's "good" or safe for these tires or what is recommended for pressue, if there is anything recommended, for these on a Westy. |
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Jake de Villiers
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5930
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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| Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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| nemobuscaptain wrote: |
| JN99 wrote: |
| Nokian Tires (205/70 15XL Entyre rated at 100T currently at 49psi front, 51psi rear). |
Why so high? I prefer a firm ride too but I think your probably just riding on the middle part of the tire.
I don't recall the tp for the 205/70/14 tire but I think I'd start there. |
VW calls for 30 psi front and 40 psi rear with the 205/70-14 tires. I really like 40 FR and 40 RR.
_________________
'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7.5 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
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Last edited by Jake de Villiers on Sun May 06, 2012 11:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
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nemobuscaptain
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 3874
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JN99
Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2011
Posts: 96
Location: Redmond, WA
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| Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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I checked again and I was running a few pounds lower that what I posted above. Actually had the tires at 49 rear/47 front. Today I lowered to 46 rear/43 front and will see how that goes. Did not get a chance to drive the van yet; had about 30 plants to get planted in the back yard while the sun was shining  |
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floggingmolly
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2007
Posts: 1106
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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Here is an "after" shot of my van after this weekend's total front end rebuild and install of the GoWesty Zero lift springs. I forgot to take a before shot, but it doesn't look much different. It raised it about 0.5 inches all around so now the center cap to wheel well ranges from 17.75" to 18.25". My van rode high all along and many people thought it was lifted. I took off the the stock springs (252K miles). I know they were stock because they still had the anti corrosion coating the rest of the underbody has. I fixed the Westy sag a few years ago by using the cut up cutting board fix posted here on The Samba, which raised and leveled the rear, 0.5 inches. You can probably see my Monroe coil over shocks in the rear. I have 5 year old Bilstein HD up front.
Mine is an 85 Weekender (pop top, cabinet, no kitchen) and this photo was taken with a nearly empty tank, but my cabinet is full as are the storage areas of my passenger seat behind the driver and the rear bench. Stock 1.9L engine.
The steering is amazing now owing to the new components I installed (all new bushings, ball joints and tie rod ends) and the bouncing up and down is gone during acceleration, braking, cornering, and all but the biggest bumps. Very satisfied in the results, totally worth it. Total job was about $1000 for everything listed above and new wheel bearings, the springs and an alignment (I did the removal and install labor of most of it) including having a shop press in new ball joints, UCABs, and new front wheel bearings. Next job will be rear wheel bearings and rear CABs.
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'85 Wolfsburg Weekender |
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Yondermtn
Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2007
Posts: 614
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Mon Jan 27, 2014 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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This might be a stupid question, but how much do these zero lift springs lift a 1990 Multivan? I recall reading that Carats and Multivans rode lower from the factory.
Thanks
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1977 Westfalia 2.0FI 4spd
1990 Multivan 2.1 Auto |
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SteveInSeattle
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Seattle Area
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| Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:30 pm Post subject: How about LOWERING springs?! |
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Anyone have experience with lowering a Westfalia? And for that matter, does anyone have some Carat springs they're dying to get out of the way? 
I certainly would like less than a foot between the tops of the tires and the wheel wells!  |
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floggingmolly
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2007
Posts: 1106
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:21 am Post subject: Re: How about LOWERING springs?! |
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| SteveInSeattle wrote: |
Anyone have experience with lowering a Westfalia? And for that matter, does anyone have some Carat springs they're dying to get out of the way?
I certainly would like less than a foot between the tops of the tires and the wheel wells! |
Lots of people have done this. Chris Schimke here on The Samba for one knows a lot about it. T3Technique is his company.
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'85 Wolfsburg Weekender |
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davevickery
Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2005
Posts: 2887
Location: Fort Collins, CO
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 12:26 pm Post subject: Re: How about LOWERING springs?! |
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| SteveInSeattle wrote: |
Anyone have experience with lowering a Westfalia? And for that matter, does anyone have some Carat springs they're dying to get out of the way?
I certainly would like less than a foot between the tops of the tires and the wheel wells! |
I have a set listed on Fort Collins craigslist for $75. I don't know what shipping would cost though. I could find out if you are interested (but I don't want to just waste my time if you just curious).
| Yondermtn wrote: |
| This might be a stupid question, but how much do these zero lift springs lift a 1990 Multivan? I recall reading that Carats and Multivans rode lower from the factory. Thanks |
Should be about 2". They will put your Mulitvan Westy at 17 to 17.5 I believe. You could check where you are now and do the math. Later vans were lower by 1.2". I bet your riding about 15 1/4 right now. If you have a tintop, probably a 1/4 to 1/2" higher than that, but I'm just guessing . But amoutn of lift would still be about 2" from where ever you are with those springs. You will probably need a left rear 1/2" spacer to level it out. I have the GW zero lifts in the back of my Westy. |
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SteveInSeattle
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Seattle Area
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| Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:24 pm Post subject: Re: How about LOWERING springs?! |
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| floggingmolly wrote: |
| SteveInSeattle wrote: |
Anyone have experience with lowering a Westfalia? And for that matter, does anyone have some Carat springs they're dying to get out of the way?
I certainly would like less than a foot between the tops of the tires and the wheel wells! |
Lots of people have done this. Chris Schimke here on The Samba for one knows a lot about it. T3Technique is his company. |
I've been in touch with Chris of T3T already and he's been a great help!
Thanks! |
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Solrider
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2011
Posts: 199
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 11:45 am Post subject: |
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I've had these springs sitting in a box for 3 weeks now, thanks to an incompetent mechanic I have not been able to get them installed. I've just had to have my entire brake system redone which has blown my budget for pretty much anything else! So I'm looking at just taking on this project myself….I have installed springs/shocks in another vehicle but that didn't really require any special tools.
Am I going to need a spring compressor for these? Any other install tips?
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Heidi - KF7CKI
85 Vanagon GL 1.6NA - Otto Von Wunderwagen
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Gone but not forgotten:
71 Super Beetle - Gretel
92 Jetta GL - Jerry
97 Passat TDI - Penny |
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floggingmolly
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2007
Posts: 1106
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Solrider wrote: |
I've had these springs sitting in a box for 3 weeks now, thanks to an incompetent mechanic I have not been able to get them installed. I've just had to have my entire brake system redone which has blown my budget for pretty much anything else! So I'm looking at just taking on this project myself….I have installed springs/shocks in another vehicle but that didn't really require any special tools.
Am I going to need a spring compressor for these? Any other install tips? |
For the zero lift springs the removal and install is pretty easy. The old ones should drop out with the van supported and the shocks/struts removed (and the tires of course). The swingarm just swings down (you may need to give it some help by pushing down). To reinstall the new ones, I got loaner spring compressors from PepBoys and compressed the new ones to make the install a bit easier (only for the front though, the rears did not seem to require it). Once you have installed the new springs on each swingarm, you'll need a jack to lift the swingarm back in to place to reinstall the shocks/struts.
This is definitely something you can do on a weekend morning. Took me a couple of hours.
EDIT:
Check out these posts for a little more detail, and more opinions...
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6681368
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=897589
http://shufti.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/vanagon-syn...ompressor/
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'85 Wolfsburg Weekender
Last edited by floggingmolly on Wed Feb 19, 2014 12:19 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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insyncro
Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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| The safest way to install the fronts is with a high quality spring compressor. |
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floggingmolly
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2007
Posts: 1106
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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| insyncro wrote: |
| The safest way to install the fronts is with a high quality spring compressor. |
Would you consider the loaner from PepBoys high quality? Seemed pretty safe to me.
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'85 Wolfsburg Weekender |
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insyncro
Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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The clamshell kind, not the internal threaded rod with flimsy hooks...it won't fit anyway.
I have two units...SIR tools, about $650 each.
What would people consider a good rental rate?
The shipping of the tool in its case will be at least $40 each way.
I will make.one available for.rental if it makes sense. |
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