you might also want to put about 300 lbs in the front and then check
the level.  simulating a driver and pax into the equation.  my 82 is
slightly higher in front with new shocks on the rear.
jimt
On Friday, Nov 1, 2002, at 12:35 US/Pacific, mark drillock wrote:

> For accuracy sake, you might want to compare measurements from the
> fender edge to the center of each axle. The measurements to the ground
> will vary with tire size and inflation pressures.
>
> Mark
>
> Joachim Preiss wrote:
>>
>> I remember reading on the list a while back, that the front on '85
>> Vanagons is
>> set up higher than other years, which sounds kinda strange. But this
>> was only
>> a single comment and topic was discontinued.
>>
>> Now I don't have a 2nd vanagon to compare with, but when I look at my
>> '85
>> Westfalia, it's obvious that the rear is sitting a lot lower than the
>> front.
>> So I took a tape measure and measured the distance from the pavement
>> to the
>> fender arch. Here are the numbers, both with a driver in the driver's
>> seat,
>> and same left & right):
>> 28" front
>> 26" rear