A spring/damper system is exactly that... a system.
You take into account mass, position, velocity,
damping coefficients, etc. into the equation.  A
heavier mass (ie. westy instead of transporter)
requires more damping to keep the natural frequency in
check...

I've tried modelling a 4-wheel independent autombile
based on rudimentay spring damper systems, and it is a
beeyatch due to the indeterminate nature of the
equation, but the principles are the same, and
certainly not a "one solution only = stock settings"
kind of thing.  Consumer products are designed for the
masses - not you.  I personally like the ride of my
stock westy, but it wouldn't do for those wacky syncro
guys, for example.

Just like anything, it's a matter of knowing the
effects of the changes you want to make (stiffer
springs require stiffer dampers, etc.).

Have fun putting along,
-damon

--- "Phil S." <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
> If Bilstein shocks and stock shocks have the same
> travel distances then i dont see why adding an
> aftermarket shock would override the factory
> engineers
> design...all you are doing is changing the stiffness
> for lack of a better word. I wonder if the factory
> suspension engineers designed the vanagon to have
> five
> hundred pounds of weight on the drivers side of the
> van(Westfalias, Aventurwagen)
>
> Now changing factory SPRINGS...that changes
> everthing.
>
> Phil 84' Westy w/Tiico

=====
'84 Westy (Sparky)
'65 Kharma Ghia (Dharma)

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