will do
I recall, from what I had read years ago, that springs have a lot of energy
stored up in them. And that there is a right way to release the energy and
get them out safely.

Thanks

Neil.

On Nov 27, 2007 6:51 PM, Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
wrote:

> That's a smart policy.
> They can kill ya if you're careless.
> I undo the top ball joint, and that takes a lot of pressure off the front
> spring.
> Get the caliper and brake hose out of there of course.
> Sometimes I can pop out the front spring that way ( 2WD, not syncro )
> And sometimes I might have to undo the inner bolt on the lower arm.
> They're not bad as springs go, but you should have really good working
> conditions and equipment, hard flat floor, good floor jack, really good
> largish heavy duty jack stands, etc.
> Just be real careful.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> neil N
> Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 6:16 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: '84 value?
>
> I'm a little hesitant to remove the springs though I imagine there's lots
> in
> the archives about that.
> I'll look into it.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Neil.
>
> On 11/27/07, Mark Drillock <drillock@earthlink.net> wrote:
> >
> > Yes, the 85 front brakes and suspension will bolt up to the 81. If the
> > 85 stuff is in decent shape I would swap it as a whole unit even,
> > assuming the 85 has the later solid lower arms. The early 85 parts are
> > the same ones as the 81 so in that case only swap if the 85 has better
> > condition stuff, fairly likely.
> >
> > The 85 has the same brakes as the 81 in any case. Remember that the
> > outer front wheel bearing is different beginning some time in 84, so
> > swapping rotors or ordering replacement wheel bearings would require
> > knowing which spindle it was to be used on and matching it up.
> >
> > I would swap the front springs too, for sure, along with the rears, even
> > if you swap nothing else.
> >
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >
> >
> > neil N wrote:
> >
> > > This is an interesting thread.
> > > I still have my 85 parts van in the drive way.
> > >
> > > Is it worth pulling the front brakes and suspension for future spare
> > parts?
> > >
> > > i.e. will the brake and suspension parts bolt up to my 81 Westy?
> > >
> > > I was going to just pull the steering rack as it looked the same as my
> > 81
> > > rack
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Neil (who clearly doesn't need to add work to his engine conversion
> > > project!)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Nov 27, 2007 4:10 PM, Mike Collum <collum@verizon.net> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >>You would have to get the steering knuckles off an '86 or newer model
> in
> > >>order to use the newer brake rotors and calipers, David.
> > >>
> > >>Mike
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>David Kao wrote:
> > >>
> > >>>Can it be done to put 86+ brake calipers and rotators on an earlier
> > >>>1.9 Vanagons? Are the spindles compatible between the two?
> > >>>
> > >>>The front brake of my 84 and 83.5 have been a constant issue to me. I
> > >>>found that I have to use only OEM pads for the front brake to work.
> > >>
> > >>Tried
> > >>
> > >>>many aftermaket pads with no luck. They are not even close to be
> usable
> > >>>in my several attempts to use them. VW must have realized the brake
> > >>
> > >>issue
> > >>
> > >>>so they upgraded it for the 86+ models among other reasons.
> > >>>
> > >>>I am concerned that once VW dealers no longer carry them I would be
> > >>>out of luck for good brake pads.
> > >>>
> > >>>David
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>--- Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET> wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>>The main thing is to find one that has been loved enough to be worth
> > >>>>committing yourself to and don't worry too much about the year.
> > >>>>
> > >>>>As Scott says, the later sliding door is a huge improvement that all
> > 85
> > >>>>and newer models have. The better parking brake was phased in during
> > >>
> > >>the
> > >>
> > >>>>85 model year and many 85s don't have it. Ditto for the plastic
> > coolant
> > >>>>pipes and cast front lower arms. At least the newer and much better
> > >>>>parking brake can be easily added to earlier models.
> > >>>>
> > >>>>The 86+ has more powerful front brakes to go with the more powerful
> > >>>>engine. Better caliper design, more pad area, larger effective
> > diameter
> > >>>>rotor and of greater thickness.
> > >>>>
> > >>>>The upgraded wiring found in 86+ is a more robust and versatile
> system
> > >>>>though I'm not sure too many owners would notice the difference.
> > >>>>
> > >>>>Lots of small changes were made after 86 as well and the vehicle
> just
> > >>>>got a little bit better year by year. I prefer 87 and later but 85
> is
> > a
> > >>>>sweet spot in the value curve and 86 is only slightly different than
> > >>
> > >>87.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
> "Jaco"  (Bustorius) http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
>
> Engine swap beginings: http://musomuso.googlepages.com/home
>
>

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
"Jaco"  (Bustorius) http://web.mac.com/tubaneil

Engine swap beginings: http://musomuso.googlepages.com/home