Experiences with aftermarket springs?

[lonbordin]

Installing these shocks are one of the best upgrades for your westy. My 1985 Westfalia Weekender now sits 17" in front 18" in rear. Hooray!!!
Check out the pics at my blog:
http://lonbordin.blogspot.com/

[vwjedi]

WBX- You have a PM.

I re-read this post and for some reason I don't seem to be answering your question. Yes, I do think the Carrat springs will sag in the back. Mine had the classic nose slightly up with the stock springs, not as bad as some I've seen. However the load rate must be quite different for "window vans" and "westy's" because mine def. sits nice and high with her butt up in the air now.

I will pass on Provocyclist's good Vanagon mojo and give you my springs for the cost of shipping if you promise to use them. Lemme know.
_________________
1987 Wolfsburg T25 still riding out. A bunch of other VW's passed on...

[tclark]

[riceye]

I PM'd you with the pages and specs, but here it is again, for all to see:

[tclark]

[riceye]

Hi Tim,

The specs for Monroe's replacement shocks for an 85 vanagon are here:
http://info.rockauto.com/Monroe/34971.html

The specs for the shocks I am running are here:
http://info.rockauto.com/Monroe/58595.html

Regards,
Ric
_________________
'87 Westy Weekender - daily driver on salt-free roads

There's gonna be some changes made.

“I find that things usually go well right up until the moment they don't.” - Ahwahnee

"Quality isn't method. It's the goal toward which the method is aimed." - Socrates, later quoted by R.M. Pirsig

[tclark]

THANK YOu RICK ...
Looks like I got the vw spec wrong

VW specd monroe http://info.rockauto.com/Monroe/34971.html
Upper/lower Bolt on A=12MM & B=1 9/16
Compressed Length 13.375
Extended Length 21
Length of Travel 7.625

http://info.rockauto.com/Monroe/58595.html
Upper/lower Bolt on A=½ & B=1 5/8
Compressed Length 13
Extended Length 20.875
Length of Travel 7.875

so the only real diff is in the upper/lower bolt holes
looks like there is 1/16" of play in the bolt holes
and the load levelers travel .2 of a inch longer
on a real deep dip I guess

good call it was funny i posted to the vanagon list and not a beep
good or bad I just think this is a great solution just shows
yiou gotta keep your eye on both samba & vanagon list

I wonder I might even be a bit raked bcus I have installed
1" aluminium spacers already under the rear springs at top

[camit34]

[camit34]

[airkooledchris]

camit34 - I wondered the same.

I run an 81 AC westy, measured at 16 up front and 17 in the back.

when going over bumps it sqeaks like crazy, and I have that nose dip under heavy breaking.

I am thinking about going this 'napa' shock route myself.

[riceye]

Chris,

Check out my reply to the thread "Sagging Rear and Electrics"

Cheers,
Ric
_________________
'87 Westy Weekender - daily driver on salt-free roads

There's gonna be some changes made.

“I find that things usually go well right up until the moment they don't.” - Ahwahnee

"Quality isn't method. It's the goal toward which the method is aimed." - Socrates, later quoted by R.M. Pirsig

[[email protected]]

82 diesel westy, 125k miles, 15" front 16" rear. i thought mine was extra low, but seem all early 80's westys are very low

[westy87]

Back to RAISING the ride height in the rear - to correct the driver side sag, until I got new springs, I cut a circular piece of 3/4 plywood, painted it flat black, and inserted as a spacer. I pulled it three years later when I replaced the springs and it continued to show no signs of wear. So there's a cheap and easy fix!

[1621]

This may seem a silly question, but what is the primary difference between the Monroe Sensatracs discussed above, and the Bilstien HDs for the rear?

I know the coil spring is different, but I don't understand how this will provide any additional height as it's still simply a shock absorber.

Also, are there "rebound ratings" (I made that up if you couldn't tell) that indicate whether the shock provides more or less rebound strength? If so, again what is the difference between the two?

I'm trying to raise the rear a bit more, and I currently have Bilstien HDs. I like the ride currently, so I don't want to go with something with less dampening, though a little more dampening isn't bad. Just don't want it to ride like my lifted Jeep. Is it worth it to replace the rears with the Sensatracs?

Lundy
_________________
'85 Westy

[Dogpilot]

I don't want to sound like a shill for GoWesty, but they have released some new progressive springs that raise the rear and front a bit. They are not cheap, but then again, what is these days.

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=4090&category_id=253&category_parent_id=
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G

[1621]

[riceye]

Because of the coil-over construction the SensaTracs bear some of the weight, which ends up raising the vehicle, both empty and loaded.

Simply transfers some of the weight from the coils to the shocks.

I have not driven a van with fresh Billies or Konis in the rear, so I can't compare. I have enjoyed a rather stiff ride for over ten years with the NAPA (Monroe) coil-overs. Better in crosswinds, and highway cornering. I don't do much off-roading, other than National Forest campground trails, but the van has never, to my recollection, bottomed out.

Shocks tend to wear slowly, and changes in performance are diffcult to perceive. I changed mine, initially, when I noticed the right rear wheel bouncing like a basketball going over RR tracks.

Prosit,
Ric
_________________
'87 Westy Weekender - daily driver on salt-free roads

There's gonna be some changes made.

“I find that things usually go well right up until the moment they don't.” - Ahwahnee

"Quality isn't method. It's the goal toward which the method is aimed." - Socrates, later quoted by R.M. Pirsig

[JWPATE]

Old thread but a new one to me. Thanks to riceye for researching this and passing on the info.
Just ordered a set.

[vanagonjr]

[furrylittleotter]

I am adding the following post to threads related to rear spring selection.
It is applicable to 2wd and Syncro:

"After trying new shocks, carat springs, and new poly rear arm bushings I was still extremely dissatisfied with my rear suspension setup.

It simply wasn't moving.

I wanted to be able to custom select my springs based on rate so I decided to fit 2.5" coilover springs and see what happened.

Here is a photo in place but before paint and without rubber isolators.

No unusual angles. Slight rub on rubber sleeve at stop on top. Seems acceptable.

First I fitted 450lb 10" 2.5" Eibachs.

Still could barely move the van up and down jumping up and down on bumper.

Then I fitted 400# springs and it finally moved.

So far so good more testing to do.


I made the mounts from 1/4" steel plate and steel pipe coupling (conduit) cut in half, welded in.

The extra rubber is 1/2" reinforced belting I custom ordered to help isolate.

I cut it to fit.


The lower mount is angled.

The factory bump stop is covered with a thick rubber sleeve ( 1/4"?)

Fun little project."

Neil2