Don,
if you really want to do this (I'm still somewhat
unconvinced), I would suggest trying to adjust the
back. Compared to the front, it's much easier to put
spacers there on top of the spring and they don't need
to have a special shape to accept the spring. Any flat
round piece with a hole in the middle works. I'd be
intersted to hear if you get an improvement in
traction this way.
Have fun,
Reinhard

--- Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET> wrote:

> 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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