Don,

I assume you mean measuring the weight on each wheel at the loaded
conditions? So how much weight difference were you trying to compensate for
with your 1/2" shim? This is something I may try after installing my new
Bilsteins - is a highway scale sufficient for this, assuming I can place one
wheel at a time on it?

On Thu, Apr 1, 2010 at 11:02 PM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:

> Ride height is only one part of it.  And ride height can really vary if the
> suspension is not "settled" properly.
>  I laugh when I see so called suspension experts and alignment guys lift up
> a vehicle then just plop it on the alignment rack and start making
> adjustments.  Who knows exactly where that suspension is in it's range of
> motion?  You must drive around a little before measuring anything to do
> with
> alignment.
>  What is also important is the Corner Balance...Think of your van as a
> table with the wheels being the legs.  It's possible to have two of the
> legs
> a little long and still have a level table...but the other two are not
> carrying any of the load and the table is easy to "rock"......In a van it
> is
> possible to have things out of whack and have very little weight on one or
> two wheels..."Corner Balance"..it makes for strange behavior and if the
> driver has an 'educated seat of the pants' it is noticeable.
>  Just as when you cut off one leg on a tippy table, it affects all 3 of the
> other leg's relative load...  One way to visualize the concept is to take a
> couple of pencils and cross them at right angles, holding them in your hand
> parallel to the ground.  Now, roll your hand around a little and watch the
> 4
> ends of those pencils...That is exactly how your vehicle's wheels work...
>  My 84 needed almost 1/2" of shimming on the right rear to get close to
> corner balanced (as close as I needed in a 5000# camping utility van
> anyhow)
>  Getting the corner weight properly adjusted really helped my traction.
>  When you measure that stuff, you need to have the van configured like it
> will be driven....driver's equivalent weight in the seat, tank with proper
> fuel load, your normal load aboard the van..
>   Don Hanson
>
> On Thu, Apr 1, 2010 at 7:10 PM, Jack Reynaert <jack007@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > I'm running the HD Bilstein's in my 84 Westy, and haven't noticed the
> > height
> > difference of 7/8".
> > I'm 210lbs, and even with a full load, it only drops about 1/2" at most
> for
> > me.
> >
> > Where did you measure at, the top of the wheel well in front?
> >
> > How does it compare to the rear?
> >
> > Jack R.
> > 84 Westy Wolfie
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of
> > Geo
> > Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2010 7:18 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: 84 Westy -- Shock Questions
> >
> > My Westy rides lower on the drivers side by 7/8".  Not surprising as
> > the kitchen, H2O tank, propane tank, closets and one heavy driver are
> > over there.
> >
> > Part 1 -- Is it okay to use air-adjustable shocks to level the ride?
> > They would, of course, be installed with individual air-lines, not a
> > tee, allowing separate adjustment left-to-right.
> >
> > Does this (different pressure side-to-side) introduce undesirable
> > issues in handling?   I checked the archives but didn't find much on
> > the adjustables.
> >
> > Part 2 -- Some sites seem to think different shocks are needed for 85
> > and earlier vs 86 and later... others show the same part number
> > throughout the range.  Which is correct or is the answer 'it depends'?
> >
> > TIA for any help.
> >
> > Geo
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
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> > 14:32:00
> >
>