Chris:

This has more to do with the spring fatigue caused by the extra weight on
the port side of the van.  Over time (at least 9 years by now) the weight of
the camper equipment (not to mention all the stuff stuffed in there most of
the time) simply compresses the springs to a point where they fatigue and
cannot return to the original height/length.  I have even seen this in
passenger cars (like MGB's) where the driver's side is lower due to people
rarely sitting in the passenger seat.  I used to have a '69 Jeep CJ-5 that
had the gas tank under the driver's seat - it definitely listed to port as a
result of this weight & resultant spring fatigue.  (It also discouraged
smoking while driving!)

Some list members have talked about having their springs stretched in order
to restore the original ride height.  I have to think this would be a
relatively temporary solution, but then again so would new springs, and they
are a lot more expensive...

Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy
Santa Barbara, CA

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chris Fall [mailto:cpfall@UCDAVIS.EDU]
> Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2000 7:44 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: westy lists to port
>
>
> There has been a lot of discussion about shocks and springs lately. Of
> course I had to go look at my beast and discover that it does
> lean a bit
> (just noticeable) to the cabinet/stove/sink/fridge/table
> side. So is this
> normal? Eg, would a new westy (if there were one) have a bit of lean?
>
>
> Chris Fall
>
> cpfall@ucdavis.edu
>

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