I'd certainly go weight it, front and rear ends,  just out of curiousity. Quarries, moving companies, garbage transfer stations, its pretty easy to find a nearby truck scale.

--- On Thu, 6/26/08, JP <jpbeauch@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> From: JP <jpbeauch@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Syncro bad handling problem
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008, 9:52 AM
> Volks,
>
> Some of you already answered Ben regarding my syncro
> handling problem and I
> thank you for it. Most of you seems to agrees thaht the
> syncro has a weight
> problem. I'm not so sure that a liitle bit more wods
> cabinet would make such
> a difference in the weight at all. Plus I'm not the
> only syncro having a
> custom interior (look like the Reimo one) and the Gary Lee
> tire rack and
> ladder...
>
> Keep also in mind that The Old Man Emu shock are new (a
> year) as well as the
> coil spring which I bought from syncro.org.
>
> So let say you are right and I must change the shock and
> the coil spring. I
> know that gowesty ones are stiffer but what about the
> shocks? Are they any
> others ones stiffer then the OME on the market? If so where
> to get them?
>
> Oh.... and Ben though part of the bad handling problem was
> my big tire so I
> changed all five of them for what Hans form Vanaru
> suggested me (Yokohama
> Geolander LT215/75R15
>
> If you have any others ideas beside changing the shock or
> and the coils i'm
> all listening
>
> Thanks
>
> JP
>
>
>
>
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Benny boy <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
> <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA>
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 10:01:47 AM
> > Subject: Syncro bad handling problem
> >
> > Hey all, i'm stuggling to find an handling problem
> on a customer van. So i
> > wonder if any of you ever had that problem.
> > Van oversteer dangerously wile turning at speed over
> 40mph, loose rear end,
> > rear want to go in front when turning  It's almost
> scary sometime.
> > The van is HEAVY, i can barely lift this one on my
> electric lift in the
> > shop.
> > It's also very sensitive to wind.
> >
> > Condition: Big Syncro, custom interior (heavy),  of
> course, big tire :-)
> > Rear tire rack,  ladder in the back, 2.5 Subi, new
> shock and spring on all
> > wheel, no loose or play anywhere (of i can see), front
> stab bar is fine.
> > The spring are not from GoWesty but from another
> reseller, i just don't
> > remember the name.
> >
> > I thought about a rear trailling arm bushing problem
> but i see no play at
> > all. This problem just happen lately, i mean i
> didn't like the handling of
> > this van last year when i did some stuff on it but now
> it's worse than
> > ever.
> >
> > Here is the van (tire where replace):
> > http://www.benplace.com/jp_syncro.htm
> >
> > van look very similar and as now the same tire as the
> Syncro that i
> > restored
> > lately:
> > http://www.benplace.com/87_syncro2.htm
> >
> > I know, it's not much and it's dificult to
> give advices when you don't feel
> > and see the problem but maybe some of you had a
> similar handling problem???
> >
> > Any info would be appreciated.
> >
> > Cheers, Ben
> >