| What Shocks are on Front of your 2WD Westy? |
| Bilstein HD |
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31% |
[ 16 ] |
| Bilstein XHD |
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19% |
[ 10 ] |
| Koni |
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17% |
[ 9 ] |
| Fox |
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5% |
[ 3 ] |
| Original Boges |
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7% |
[ 4 ] |
| Other |
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17% |
[ 9 ] |
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| Total Votes : 51 |
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Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
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 Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 2:52 pm Post subject: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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which did ya use? - limited to 2wd Westy's only - THx
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Ahwahnee
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9800
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 3:35 pm Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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| This may be, well, shocking... but my 84 Westy stills wears its original front shocks. Honestly, they seem fine - even on rough roads or in strong crosswinds. |
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VicVan
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2015
Posts: 1840
Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 4:56 pm Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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KYBs! Haven't tried them yet though. Van is still on jacks. Eager to test them.
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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Pinetops
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2007
Posts: 2987
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 6:34 pm Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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| Ahwahnee wrote: |
| This may be, well, shocking... but my 84 Westy stills wears its original front shocks. Honestly, they seem fine - even on rough roads or in strong crosswinds. |
My '85 has the original shocks front and rear as far as I know and it nose dives while braking, feels loose on turns and clunky over bumps. Can't wait to replace them. I think I'll be going with OEM style.
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"A rolling bus gathers no rust." |
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0to60in6min
Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006
Posts: 3416
Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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why the FRONT only and not the full set Front and Rear?  |
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shagginwagon83
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 3796
Location: VA/TN
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| Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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Yeah why only front? I have been looking into new shocks. Basically Fox is most expensive -> but for offroading. Warranty, but needs to be sent off to be repaired.
Blisten HD I think is better for on road? I don't know what do you guys have and what do you recommend for front/all shocks?
Edit: You should change poll to "what do you recommend"... just imo.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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hans j
Samba Member
Joined: May 06, 2006
Posts: 2714
Location: Salt Lake City UT
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 9:01 am Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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If you like soft shocks and a boat-like ride, get the revalved Bilsteins.
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1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181 |
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tikiman71
Samba Member
Joined: July 21, 2008
Posts: 79
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:04 am Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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I replaced my Bilstein HD's with Koni reds on the next to stiffest setting and it made a world of difference. Way less boaty and floaty, and much more tuned and sporty feeling. Firm, but not unpleasant in any way. Feel is subjective, but I prefer the ride to be on the firmer side of things, and the ability to adjust is key, even if it is a bit of a pain to do. I drive mostly on highway and around town, with occasional dirt roads.
These are with 2wd Schwenk (syncro.org) springs by the way, which I also had with the Bilsteins.
Cheers,
Adam
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1987 Westfalia GL |
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jayinduluth
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2012
Posts: 122
Location: Southern California via Duluth, MN
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:31 am Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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The PO of my van installed these on the front only 16 years ago -
https://www.amazon.com/nobrandname-345006-Gas-Shock/dp/B00N28S7AW
My 85 van is the only van I've ever driven, so I don't know how to compare mine to others.
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85 Westy with 91 2.1L |
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ZsZ
Samba Member
Joined: December 11, 2010
Posts: 1645
Location: Budapest Hungary, Europe
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:42 am Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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Bilstein B4. They good. Tryed KYB but it was softer than the original 25+ year old BOGE ones
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Zoltan
1.9 MTdi 2wd Multivan (ex Caravelle)
Van since 2006, engine since 2008 |
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bobbyblack 
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4349
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:56 am Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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Merian,
Can't imagine I would be the first to say this to you, but to others with same questions, perhaps this is the first time you will have heard it:
Shocks work in a kitty-corner manner. A bump that the front left takes will transfer to the rear right, and vice versa. Therefore, it is quite important that the shocks perform their duty in a balance way in an X map rather than an = one.
Hope things are well.
Good skill beats good luck hands down
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 12:41 pm Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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I am interested mainly in the fronts - obviously rear shocks have something to do with vehicle dynamics too.
However, in a Vanagon, you are basically sitting on top of a pogo stick. 
Feel free to select the choice based on all 4
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BIRD84WESTY
Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2007
Posts: 86
Location: Boise, ID
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 3:32 pm Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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Last summer I replaced 10 yr old KYBs with the NAPA Gas Grande shocks along with GOWesty's front bushing kit on my 84 Westy, with Carat springs. Man, what a difference, way better.
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1984 Westy w/Bostig in the trunk |
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Yellow Rabbit
Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2005
Posts: 1146
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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| It’s an easy job. Spend the extra 10 minutes and do all 4. |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 3:59 pm Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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I had KYBs on my van...
K ill
Y our
B ack
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| Abscate wrote: |
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Syncronoid
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2012
Posts: 1111
Location: Stanford, CA and Bend, OR
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 4:02 pm Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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Oops! Didn't see the "2wd only" statement. Ixnay the one Fox vote. 
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'90 Syncro Westy w/GW2.5L |
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kourt
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2013
Posts: 1944
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 4:57 pm Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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I have Fox shocks on a 2WD automatic Westy. They were an upgrade after four years with Bilstein HDs. I think the Fox shocks are firmer and more responsive.
kourt |
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CptRon
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2015
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 11:37 am Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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I have Bilsteins on my high top and love them.
Noticeable difference on highway on and off ramps. |
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CptRon
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2015
Posts: 19
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10371
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2018 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: What Shocks did you put on the Front of your Westy? |
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Sachs. New springs helped a great deal.
Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
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