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pbrown Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 6:24 pm Post subject: Syncro Schwenk springs and Fox shocks |
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Hey All,
I need a favor. For those of you running Schwenk standard height springs and Fox shocks on your Syncro -- I would like to know your ride height. Measure from the fender lip to the wheel center.
I'm having an issue with the Fox shock rubbing on the axle. I like my ride height where it is. I will either have to adjust the shock higher to clear the axle or change to a stock Syncro spring. Stock springs are a little shorter.
Thanks in advance.
--Patrick _________________ Patrick Brown
1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF |
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Sodo Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 10526 Location: Western WA
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Posted: Mon May 05, 2025 7:41 am Post subject: Re: Syncro Schwenk springs and Fox shocks |
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Two possibilities:
Pray that its the UCAs upside down.
Other is even less fun.
You may have the left-side Foxshock on the right side. _________________
'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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pbrown Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Mon May 05, 2025 8:00 am Post subject: Re: Syncro Schwenk springs and Fox shocks |
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That's not is. At least I don't think so. I'll take a look. I have a ride height issue. The axle to shock body is okay. It's the adjustable spring cup. They need to be adjusted away from the axle a bit. I thought I had enough clearance but there are noticeable rub marks on the axle. It must be when turning or in compression.
I'm planning to pull out the spring compressor and adjust them up a couple of turns.
To make things worse, I had a local shop replace an axle and they put one on with a fatter hollow body axle. I need to get that out of there before there is additional damage. _________________ Patrick Brown
1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF |
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pbrown Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Mon May 05, 2025 8:10 am Post subject: Re: Syncro Schwenk springs and Fox shocks |
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I just checked the UCA. They are mounted correctly. They are Burley control arms but that shouldn't matter. _________________ Patrick Brown
1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF |
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pbrown Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sun May 11, 2025 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro Schwenk springs and Fox shocks |
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I adjusted the front shocks up about 1/8" to hopefully eliminate the axle rubbing.
I have a non-standard axle on the passenger side. It has a thicker axle than OEM and was rubbing. It was installed new by Peace Vans in Seattle. They should have known better. Lesson learned - do your own work.
I have a replacement axle coming from Van Cafe tomorrow. It has the NLA Lobro outer CV. I'm worried that it will have the same thicker axle issue as what I removed. I also have some new CVs coming from T3 that I can use to rebuild my old axle. There will be options.
I have a trip planned and need this done by the 22nd. _________________ Patrick Brown
1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF |
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pbrown Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sat May 24, 2025 8:18 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro Schwenk springs and Fox shocks |
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I missed my deadline and cancelled the trip.
I started installing the stock springs from Christopher @ T3. It turns out that they have an inside diameter that is to small to fit the lower spring perch on the Fox shock.
IMG_3204 by Patrick Brown, on Flickr
The upper spring is the Schwenk and the lower is the replacement stock Syncro spring.
IMG_3205 by Patrick Brown, on Flickr
Schwenk spring
IMG_3206 by Patrick Brown, on Flickr
replacement sprint that is too small
I'm going to reinstall the Schwenk springs and change the ride height to clear the Fox shock's adjustment nuts. _________________ Patrick Brown
1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF |
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pbrown Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sat May 24, 2025 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro Schwenk springs and Fox shocks |
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Here is the problem. The axle has been rubbing.
IMG_3202 by Patrick Brown, on Flickr
And I had an axle fail. It's unclear if it was from the rubbing or other. I think it was self inflicted. I have a sport VC and think I broke the axle when turning too tight and too high speed.
IMG_3201 by Patrick Brown, on Flickr
I have some original rebuildable axles. I'm working on rebuilding now. Those outer CV joints are a PITA to remove. _________________ Patrick Brown
1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF |
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ALIKA T3 Samba Member

Joined: July 30, 2009 Posts: 7105 Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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pbrown Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sun May 25, 2025 12:03 am Post subject: Re: Syncro Schwenk springs and Fox shocks |
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The axle came out of the cv joint while still on the van. Possibly the clip was not completely engaged when last rebuilt. _________________ Patrick Brown
1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF |
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pbrown Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro Schwenk springs and Fox shocks |
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I have a couple of core axle assemblies. I was able to get one stripped down. That outer CV is a PITA. An angle grinder was involved.
This photo shows the old and the replacement. The red one is the old. It doesn't seem so bad after seeing them side by side.
Syncro Front Axles by Patrick Brown _________________ Patrick Brown
1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF |
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pbrown Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2008 Posts: 475 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro Schwenk springs and Fox shocks |
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I spent some time with a small file cleaning up the replacement axle.
Syncro axle cleaned up by Patrick Brown, on Flickr
I'll take it to the powder coating shop on Monday. _________________ Patrick Brown
1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF |
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4Gears4Tires Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018 Posts: 4016 Location: MD
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 4:47 pm Post subject: Re: Syncro Schwenk springs and Fox shocks |
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I'd throw chinese ebay axles in there before I ran that. _________________ '87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition |
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