

| Subject: | leveling van ride height /cheap way to do it |
| From: | Andrew Nock |
| Date: | Thu, 2 Jan 2003 03:53:41 -0500 |
Well I adjusted my ride height using a very low cost method. I am looking for comments or fatal flaws. Problem: I have an 85 westy with a sagging rear end. My fix: 1) bought "high torque" SS hose clamps McMasterCarr 1" - 2 1/4 inch extended range - 5/8 wide, extra thick band. (5 for $8). The have in previous cataloges, advertised these as the 'end all solution' to leaking hoses - a full 6 threads of positive engagement. Simply will not break" 2) Placed two clamps 180 spaced degrees apart around 2 coils of each front spring (I pre bent the clamps so the screw part would stay at a coil) 3) Cranked them down so my ride height was correct. About 1" on each side. 4) I am level at a cost of $8 Note 1) I could not strip these clamps with a standard size 1/4 drive socket wrench! And I cranked them pretty hard. Note 2) Why note 1 is important: I tried this previously with regular hose clamps. I stripped several in the process (I knew was a bad sign). I finially got 4 of them to stick, but over two weeks I heard several distinct "pings" from my undercarriage as they broke rebounding from sudden changes in road elevation (ie entering and leaving driveways) How long will it last? Any guesses?
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