7 Steps to a happier back end - Vanagon sag

[campism]

Stance before and after the spacers. Just enough lift to make a difference.

Before

After.

_________________
'87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic, tragically crushed by a falling hickory tree in my own driveway and now gone, leaving me Vanagonless and with no plans to replace it, alas.

[campism]

Got my spacers installed, 15/16" total for the three 5/16" pieces that boosted that corner by a significant amount while simultaneously adjusting the other corners as well, giving an overall improved stance that is slightly higher at the rear. No pix of the spacers installed but there are plenty of those in this thread and mine can't be seen from the side in any case. I have enough material left for a couple more and might add one on the right side to even things up, but I'm very happy with this change.

Before
LF=16 5/8" RF=16 7/8"

LR=15 1/2" RR=16 1/2"

After
LF=16 3/8" RF=16 1/2" Actually lowered the front a little and did so evenly.

LR=17" RR=16 3/4" Raising the left side also raised the right a bit.

_________________
'87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic, tragically crushed by a falling hickory tree in my own driveway and now gone, leaving me Vanagonless and with no plans to replace it, alas.

[mtnride1]

my 2wd id 17 1/2 all the way around
_________________
87 westy 2wd (NED)

[T3Syncrohammer!]

I just put new Bilstein B6 hd for Syncro 16” and one 1/2 “ thick rubber spring lift dampening pad on the stock Syncro springs and am seeing 19 &3/4”up front, And 2 1/2” Spacer pads one at the bottom on the rear control arm and another up top, And with my adventurewagen Syncro weekender that has no cabinets or roof bed I am seeing
20.5” inches rear.

[T3Syncrohammer!]

If possible, please measure from center of the hub/axle to fender lip. This removes variables like tire pressure. And shows what the shocks ,springs & spacers are doing. Independent of wheels /tires.

Thanks

[mtnride1]

[T3Syncrohammer!]

Hi, Curious how tall your van sits at each wheel?
from center of axle to lip of fender?
I just did front 1/2 spacers and new Bilstein B6 HD for
16" syncro and with stock springs its sitting right at 19.5"
Im heading right now to add spacers install rear bilsteins👍

[mtnride1]

I just installed the GW spacers, one on top and one on the bottom. I have 16" rims with geolanders and the GW lift. I think it looks better and rides better to. I also have the T-3 front sway bar that made a huge difference.
_________________
87 westy 2wd (NED)

[T3Syncrohammer!]

Hi, I am getting ready to do a Bilstein B6 HD for 16” shock install on my Syncro Adventurewagen (Weekender set up. No cabinets or roof bed instead a hammock up top!) Aka
Syncrohammer!

I was gonna go GoWesty 2” lift springs but read several people who found that to be not a good pairing? And After reading this thread on to lift or not to lift ?

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=538751

I have decided to go the spacer route. As many people chimed in and would not go through the effort of lifting it over again!
Currently in the mid to low 17” range front and mid to low 18” in the back.
Want to bring it up to 19.5” stock early Syncro hardtop range or possibly a mild lift beyond that. Considering the limit of potential lift with washer or cutting board spacers (risk of spring shifting position) and the expense of custom made spacers that retain spring position (often times costing the same as buying lift springs!) I did a lot of research and found what appears to be a good reasonably priced solution!

These have an internal neck that retains the springs position and come in 20mm and 30mm shim height.
Roughly 5.2 inch diameter
Roughly 3.9 inch internal neck
See the attached chart below. Wondering what other people think of this idea?
And if there is any reason it is not a good solution?
Or would not work?

[RoryGirl]

You need FB...but this place seems to be actively making/selling them -

https://www.facebook.com/vwspacers/

Edit - Also here - http://vwspacers.com/
_________________
1991 Twin Slider VR6
1985 Audi 4k

[drj434343]

I have also looked and looked for front spring spacers, including finding that linked video, but haven't found any for sale yet either.

[pbrown]

[T3Syncrohammer!]

Hi, Looking for plans or specs to make front spring shim spacers.

I paid an ordered a front spacer and the supplier sent me a note and refund saying sorry out of stock, I am doing a complete front end rebuild and Bilstein HD for 16” Syncro install this week and am scrambling to make some front spring spacers. If anyone has the plans / specs? Or a pdf of them they could send I would really appreciate that! I’ve search the samba and see reference to the plans but don’t see the actual plans.

Thank You!

[T3Syncrohammer!]

Hi, Does anyone have plans or specs to make front spring spacers ?
I see a lotta mention of plans but I haven’t found any for the front for my Syncro.

Thank you

[kjono09]

Silly question. If I am making these, what did you use for inner hole diameter?

Does anyone have a fancy cad design of these?
Was thinking about milling a chuck of metal to spec with an indentation for the spring.
_________________
87 Wolfsburg Vanagon GL (The Caterpillar)
84 Retro-Westy GW 2.2L (Vincent)
67 Bug 2007cc (WBX in progress) (Davey)

Submariner

[kourt]

http://www.gowesty.com/product-details.php?v=&id=4346

For $20 per pad, just buy these. They work.

kourt

[Paulbeard]

I got a chance to measure this the other week and realized I am suffering from this common affliction, the Westy Lean. Had I access to my tools, it would be simple to make the spacers I need. I have a couple of circle cutting jigs that would make this an easy task but I can't get to them.

Does anyone have the time and/or interest in making these for a tool-deprived Sambanista? A router with a cutting bit and a couple of pivot points are all that's needed (plus the material, of course).
_________________
Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[tjet]

[alaskadan]

What rims are those. And what is the offset? Im looking to put the same size tires on my van.

[alaskadan]

What rims are those. And what is the offset? Im looking to put the same size tires on my van.