

| Subject: | More on ride height adjustments.. |
| From: | Don Hanson |
| Date: | Sat, 18 Aug 2007 19:48:06 -0700 |
Thanks for the responses. I guess there is no adjustability in the vanagon, as built by the factory. So I'll have to figure out the best way to adjust on my own..Shims were suggested. I'll have to get under and look at everything more closely. In my experience, it takes very little ride height adjustment to greatly affect the amount of traction in a vehicle. My racecar was very sensitive to as little as a few millimeters of change, with huge differences in lap times coming when the suspension was 'off'.. A few millimeters would cause the corner balance to be way off...which in turn affected the available drive significantly. If you have an "open" differential, as my van does (no limited slip) if you have say, 100 lbs less load on one rear wheel, that one will spin very easily in low traction situations. 100 lbs less load could be as little as a few millimeters of ride height difference...An inch total difference, corner to corner, could actually cause the light wheels to leave the ground at times...not good for impulsion.. Now, in most situations, it's probably not that important. But I live on a hill and it sometimes snows. I need all the drive I can get to avoid having to chain up to get home..I also drive in sand and mud and on rain-slick roads. More traction is good...If a bit of adjusting can help, it will be worth it..I've also been looking at locking diffs, for when I get stuck..And at installing a limited slip...but cost is a factor there.. anyhow, thanks for the responses.. Don Hanson
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