Could you say that this is a better solution to reduce
sway than to add front and rear sway bars? I would
much rather do this if it REALLY reduced swaying, and
from reading Developtrust's posts it seams to be so.

Phil,
84' "Westy Millenium Falcon"

--- developtrust <developtrust@HOME.COM> wrote:
> Just a progress report on the completion of
> installing my new springs that
> steve@syncro.com makes. I am thoroughly delighted
> with the results. My
> vanagon now drives like a new vehicle. An added
> bonus is no more squeaks &
> rattles up front. Some improvement due to new upper
> ball joints to be sure
> but some also due to replacing old springs with 13
> years of metal fatigue.
>
> I encourage anyone upgrading their vanagons to
> contact Steve to reserve a
> set of springs from his next production run. The VW
> dealer wants $626 for
> stock springs and Steve's springs are $400 and
> better in my opinion.
>
> The cornering of the vehicle with the new springs is
> remarkably sweet (much
> less sway around corners.) The ride is smooth and
> drives like a new vehicle.
> All wheels now measure 17 & 1/4 inches from the
> fender to the center of the
> wheel cap. Formerly my front measurements were about
> 16 & 1/2 inches on the
> right and 15 & 7/8 on the driver side. Rear
> measurements were 17 on the
> right and about 16 & 1/2 on the driver side.
>
> I received a lot of very useful information from
> Steve about the springs and
> he may have saved me from making a big costly
> mistake as he recommended to
> not go more than 1/4 inch for the front driver side
> shim. I was tempted to
> add 1/2 inch of shims up front but he said it was
> not a one to one
> relationship. If not for his encouragement and
> patient advice I would never
> have installed the springs. Thank you Steve.
>
> I had my VW dealer install the front springs and the
> two upper ball joints
> which had ruptured boots. I installed the rear
> springs today myself (a piece
> of cake.) I had the dealer put 1/4 inches of rubber
> shim material up top of
> the driver side spring to compensate for my camper
> equipment and my body
> weight since I am usually without a passenger. I put
> an extra 1/8 inch
> rubber shim on both rear springs up top of the
> rubber spring seat because
> Steve's springs are flatter and do not sit inside
> the formed rubber seat the
> way the factory springs mould to the spring seat. On
> the left rear spring
> (driver side) I added 5/8 extra shim material to
> compensate for the camper
> equipment and lefty sway (one 3/8 inch polyethylene
> shim made from a kitchen
> cutting board, and three 1/8 inch rubber shims for a
> total of 3/4 inches.)
>
> I also left my Air Lift air bag system inside the
> new rear springs in place
> but under inflated to 10 psi instead of suggested
> manufacturer's recommended
> 25 psi. this way if I have a large load in the
> future I can just pump up the
> psi to 25 when needed.
>
> I discovered another interesting fact when measuring
> the fronts. Exiting the
> driver side my first measurement was 17" and the
> passenger side was about 17
> & 3/8" which gave me some concern. I did not
> consider that my 225 pounds of
> body weight on the left might give me a false
> reading. I next exited the
> passenger side to redistribute weight. Measured
> again and both wheels
> measured at 17 & 1/4" fender to center of wheel cap.
> Without a passenger one
> will get a false measurement if you are looking for
> accuracy.
>
> I hope anyone considering replacing your old worn
> out springs will find this
> information useful. Contact me about rear spring
> replacement if you ever
> need assistance or advice.
>
> William Polowniak
> 1989 Vanagon GL
> 1988 Mercedes 300 SE

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