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New Gowesty springs ver 2.0 impressions...?..
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canasync
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 1:24 am    Post subject: New Gowesty springs ver 2.0 impressions...?.. Reply with quote

Just wondering what the impressions of people are on the new 2.0 Gowesty springs.


A friend of mine bought a set for his stock 2.1L Syncro Westy, and right from the get go the closer coils are touching.

A truly progressive spring has a few coils closer together than others and when the vehicle is loaded the close coils sit on each other and the widely spaced coils take over.

What have your experiences been? Have any of you talked to GW about this?
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Saguache
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 7:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are we talking about the 2WD or 4WD kits? I hadn't realized this was an issue with these springs and I've been planning to lift my 2WD van very shortly. Are there other non-progressive springs you recommend which will remain stiffer under load?
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madspaniard
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 8:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

insyncro wrote:


I am currently testing Syncro.org 2wd lift springs paired with Koni shocks.
Excellent fit and finish.
No alignment issues, 1.5" lift, firmer than stock feel and excellent for limiting body roll.


Where did you get these springs? Same ones Van-Cafe is selling?
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madspaniard
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 9:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks!

Do you know if there has been improvements or changes in design from previous versions of these Syncro.org springs? I recently installed a version of these springs sold about 3 years ago, I had them sitting in a box, unused. I'm not too thrilled with them combined with Bilsteins, too much nose dive compared to my stock springs and Bilsteins plus I had a lot of sag front to back and side to side requiring about 1 inch of spring pads in rear to fix sag. Cornerung also suffered to the point that I feel like I lost the advantage I had gained with my recently installed 1" sway bar, maybe some of this feeling is due to the ride height increase.

Wondering if I will get better results with the set VanCafe is selling now.
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mwsnow
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 9:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

madspaniard wrote:
Thanks!

Do you know if there has been improvements or changes in design from previous versions of these Syncro.org springs? I recently installed a version of these springs sold about 3 years ago, I had them sitting in a box, unused. I'm not too thrilled with them combined with Bilsteins, too much nose dive compared to my stock springs and Bilsteins plus I had a lot of sag front to back and side to side requeing about 1 inch of spring pads in rear to fix sag. Cornerung also suffered to the point that I feel like I lost the advantage I had gained with my recently installed 1" sway bar, maybe some of this feeling is due to the ride height increase.

Wondering if I will get better results with the set VanCafe is selling now.

My experience with the older version and Bilstein HD shocks is the same. Not happy.
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presslab
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 9:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had Syncro.org 2WD lift springs a while ago. I wasn't happy with them, they were just way too soft. Hopefully the new ones are a lot stiffer.

I doubt Steve would publish the spring rate, I'm sure he keeps that close to his chest. It could be calculated by measuring the spring dimensions. Or the best would be to have someone actually measure the spring rates with a tester.

If the GoWesty springs are even softer Exclamation than the Syncro.org springs I would steer clear of those...
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funagon
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 9:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm very interested in this topic! Planning to lift my "low-rider" van and add some off-road tires. I'd love to hear other peoples experiences--objective or subjective--about how these springs ride. I expect to order one of the options from the Van-Cafe website, which of course includes syncro.org and GW springs.
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Saguache
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 9:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

insyncro wrote:

I am currently testing Syncro.org 2wd lift springs paired with Koni shocks.
Excellent fit and finish.
No alignment issues, 1.5" lift, firmer than stock feel and excellent for limiting body roll.


Can you link to the spring and strut set you've got? I'm looking at the Syncro.org page which discusses coil springs and its pretty limited.

Syncro.org wrote:

VW sells only one stiffness in coil springs for all of the syncro configurations despite the great variations in vehicle weight. As a result, the stock springs are simply too soft for the heavier Westfalia models, and they produce symptoms of “wallowing,” “kneeling” and shifting in the wind on the heavier vans. Moreover, the one-size-fits-all stock springs are expensive at about $1,200 a set. There are several options available for custom springs that address these problems and also provide increased ride height.


I'd like to replace front and back with a lift and get a stiffer ride. Zeno is a 1983(.5) 1.9L Diesel and I'll be running SA 15" wheels with BFG 215/75R15s on him after the lift. Stiffer in all directions is better; sway kneeling, etc need to be controlled.
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bosruten
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm running GW 2" progressive/ Emu. I like them, but I need to upgrade the anti-sway and steering bushings. If I could hit rewind and had the $$$....Fox and perches.
My experience with these vans is limited, so I'm basing this on...nothing! Laughing
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j_dirge
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

madspaniard wrote:

Wondering if I will get better results with the set VanCafe is selling now.

I'd be interested in road testing our vans side by side.
I have the last of the Syncro.org springs from VC just before stock ran out and while S.org was looking for a new manufacturer.
IIRC, S.org had made some midtsream changes to the earlier production and I am wondering if you got part of the earlier first run.

I am pretty happy with mine and Biltsteins + rehab.

But this is about S.org springs and the thread is about GW springs.. I'll PM you.
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vwjedi
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 10:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Adding some info to the topic:

I replaced my "carat" springs with '85 Westy stock springs and Bilstein shocks. It raised me about 2.5" and I was very pleased with the ride quality. A little nose diving on hard braking, would probly spend the extra $$ and get the Heavy Duty shocks next time.

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


Plenty of room to put the BFG 14" 28.5 all terrains in the wheel well. From what I have heard I would try to find some used stock westy springs and spend the ching on high end shocks. Just my 0.02. Cool

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

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madspaniard
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 11:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Jim

Lets compare rides! maybe my springs are an earlier version than yours. This thread started about GW springs but we are also trying to inform people about choices. My problem is both GoWesty and VanCafe (syncro.org) came out with new springs but there is a general lack of information and feedback on them. One thing that worries me is that the sales pitch from VanCafe's web site is pretty much the same one we were reading about the earlier version of the syncro.org springs, did they just change spring manufacturer? no mention of what has changed, it does not help when you try to make an informed decision involving something very important for these vans and a bunch of hard earned money that I will spend.

I've been meaning to call Peter at VanCafe and talk about their springs but I also feel this info should be more available to potential customers.
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Last edited by madspaniard on Sun Jan 01, 2012 11:08 pm; edited 1 time in total
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photogdave
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 4:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My ears were burning!
Here's some pics of the rear springs installed. Any feedback is appreciated.

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


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

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insyncro
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shocked Shocked Shocked
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

insyncro wrote:
Shocked Shocked Shocked

Is it that bad?
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70coupyel
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gold bars in the back?? Very Happy Shocked Whats the set up on your van when that pic was taken?
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TheAndante wrote:
Saying that specs are different than dimensions doesn't make sense. Porsche specs/VW specs/engineering specs are nothing but a series of dimensions,sizes,percentages,measurements, etc.

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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

70coupyel wrote:
Gold bars in the back?? Very Happy Shocked Whats the set up on your van when that pic was taken?

Stock syncro westy with nothing else inside.
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BlackDogVan
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ya WTF are you packing around in your van? !
If that's a unloaded van I'd say something is amiss. Caution with gw, if you talk to them about this & you have a engine conversion they like to say they are designed around a stock vehicle weight so the engine you installed that weighs 2lb more is the issue.

I am extremely happy with the 2wd gw lift springs/ bilstien hd's/ addco sway bar setup in my carat. Not the weight of a Westy tho.
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No, completely stock. Haven't done the alignment yet either.
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squeegee_boy
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 5:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeah... that did settle quite a lot since yesterday. I'd send a pic to GW if I were you. Maybe they have a comparison photo handy.

I don't think they're open until Tuesday, though.

Robyn
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