RE: westy lists to port       Is there some difference between the springs
that would prevent one side from simply being swopped with the other side or
even rotated like tires every few years? This would produce a starbord list
for a while but this would even out after a while before once again going to
port, at which point we rotate again.
   Any reason why not?

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf Of
BRENT CHRISTENSEN
  Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2000 12:05 PM
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
  Subject: Re: westy lists to port

  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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