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2WD Vanagon front spring identification?
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jimf909 Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 5:27 pm    Post subject: 2WD Vanagon front spring identification? Reply with quote

Hi All,

The spring on the left in the photo is a new Moog 5658. The spring on the right cane out of my 1990 2WD Vanagon Westy camper.

- Can anyone say if the brown paint mark on the spring on the right identifies it as an VW spring? I recall seeing photos with these marks id’d but haven’t been able to find them.

- Also, the spring on the right provided a ride height of about 16 1/2”. It’s about 14 3/4” and the Moog 5658 13 1/4”. I’ve read that most folks get a 17”+ ride height with the 5658. Is it surprising to anyone that it’s 1 1/2” shorter and should provide a higher ride height?

(I understand that the Moog is stiffer and will likely compress less. I also understand that my heavier van, 4,800 - 5,000 lb, van will likely rider lower than the 17” that most folks report. I’m just surprised that it’s lower).

My primary question is if anyone can i.d. the spring on the right.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Thanks.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.

Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro).
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jimf909 Premium Member
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 6:23 pm    Post subject: Re: 2WD Vanagon front spring identification? Reply with quote

I did find this as a starter. Does anyone know if one brown stripe is the same as two noted below?


suebicum wrote:
Hi

And with the springs, VW has 4 different front 2WD springs.

They are colour coded with rings around the wire.
2x blue, normal
2x brown, camper, ambulance, Carat (normal)
2x green, HD for heavy loads
1x yellow, lowered suspension, xx-Star, LLE, Carat

Michael


Thanks.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.

Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro).
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levi
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 6:48 pm    Post subject: Re: 2WD Vanagon front spring identification? Reply with quote

On the right, original spring 1985 pop top.
Left moog 5660

Don't remember seeing any color coding, but I'm color blind, maybe it was there on the original and I didn't see it.

Going strictly by memory, seems like I found info back then that the original spring had a rate of about 350 pounds and the 5660 was about 600.

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 6:55 pm    Post subject: Re: 2WD Vanagon front spring identification? Reply with quote

Jim the hieghts you mention sound right to me. I've read somewhere that the number of stripes refers to a range of minor manufacturing variation and it didn't matter if it was a 1, 2 or 3 stripes, VW just matched them up side to side when installing them at the factory. I done both the 5658 and 5660 swap and I think I was the first to recommend the 5658 over the 5660 but there is some personal taste that comes into it.
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 8:17 pm    Post subject: Re: 2WD Vanagon front spring identification? Reply with quote

Dave, thanks for the super-helpful information. Yep, it was your posts that led me down the 5658 path. I'm curious to see the ride height I get with my heavy van. I'm hoping for a level 16 1/2" - 17".

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7038224#7038224
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Abscate wrote:
Do not get killed, do not kill others.


Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.

Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro).
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dobryan
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:10 am    Post subject: Re: 2WD Vanagon front spring identification? Reply with quote

Jim,

Here is the front spring off the '91 tin top.

Yellow paint

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


12" tall

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I did not measure the Schwenk 2WD springs before I installed them though.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:27 am    Post subject: Re: 2WD Vanagon front spring identification? Reply with quote

My stock '87 westfalia front springs are 15 inches tall.
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:03 pm    Post subject: Re: 2WD Vanagon front spring identification? Reply with quote

dobryan wrote:
Jim,

Here is the front spring off the '91 tin top.

Yellow paint



Thanks, Dave. It’s helpful to see that measurement.

The yellow stripe tin-top springs are about 2 3/4” shorter than the brown stripe camper springs. Also the Moog 5658 and Schwenk 2WD springs are shorter than the stock camper springs but are also stiffer and provide an equal number or higher ride height.
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- Jim

Abscate wrote:
Do not get killed, do not kill others.


Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.

Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro).
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:04 pm    Post subject: Re: 2WD Vanagon front spring identification? Reply with quote

Igeo wrote:
My stock '87 westfalia front springs are 15 inches tall.


Thanks, that’s pretty close to the 14 3/4” I measured for my brown stripe stock camper springs.
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Abscate wrote:
Do not get killed, do not kill others.


Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.

Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro).
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vanagonjr
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:05 am    Post subject: Re: 2WD Vanagon front spring identification? Reply with quote

Anyone know if the tall 85 (2WD) springs are the same color code?
Also the spring height of the 85's?
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PostPosted: Thu May 16, 2019 10:01 am    Post subject: Re: 2WD Vanagon front spring identification? Reply with quote

vanagonjr wrote:
Anyone know if the tall 85 (2WD) springs are the same color code?
Also the spring height of the 85's?


I'd love to know the answer to this question. '85s are known to have the highest ride height (my '85 certainly rode higher than my '90 with similar loads), but I haven't seen a different paint stripe code for the '85s. Is anyone crawling under their '85 soon?
_________________
- Jim

Abscate wrote:
Do not get killed, do not kill others.


Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.

Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro).
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