Hi Scott, I already have 15 inch rim/tires, and that made a big difference in ride and handling. Next is new shocks. Jeff Stewart ----- Original Message -----
> hi..
> what 85 Westy's and Weekenders really need is shorter front springs.
> Unless you have some reason to want extra ground clearance..
> the real, best-handling repair is shorter front springs.
> 85 GL front springs are ideal. Sits dead level then.
> 84 GL front springs are a tad low...comes out raked ...lower in the
> front.
> you may notice that an 85 Westy or Weekender with 14 inch wheels and
> too-tall front suspension handles like a boat.
> They don't have to .
> But they do need the right springs, ( just the fronts ) good shocks..
> and 15 inch wheels with the right tires help quite a bit.
> no leaning over a lot in turns ..
> no 'terminal grind-the-front-tires-off' understeer either.
> if your happy with it now though..that's all that counts.
> scott
> On 5/13/2012 2:47 PM, J Stewart wrote:
> > OK, I took the challenge as well. Van Cafe rear coil spring spacers
> > to
> > boost the rear end a bit to do away with the "saggy butt" look. Had
> > them for months, tried putting them in a few weeks ago using a
> > spring
> > compressor but couldn't. Folks here told me to unbolt the shock
> > (duh)
> > and the trailing arm will drop down far enough the spring pops right
> > out-well.....yes and no. E brake off and shock unbolted it still
> > took
> > some wrangling and a few choice words to get the spring out. Put the
> > spacer in place and there was no way that spring was going back in
> > place! Had to get the spring compressor back out and compress the
> > springs quite a bit in order to get them back in place. So that job
> > is
> > done, parts are off my work bench and on the van. Results? Well
> > worth
> > the money, the van now sits level. Next weekend, replacing the seals
> > on my right and left middle windows. Jeff Stewart ----- Original
> > Message -----
> > > Ok, the challenge is accepted.
> > > I promise to install the extra new late westy fluorescent light I
> > > have
> > > sitting around on the sliding door head.
> > > YMMV,
> > > Mr. BZ-President-Procrastinators Anonymous
> > > On Sun, May 13, 2012 at 9:40 AM, ed donnen
> > > <spliced.surprise@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > Well, you know what I mean. We all have a "loose shoelace", that
> > > > thing we
> > > > really really mean to do, that fairly easy thing to do, not
> > > > critical
> > > > but
> > > > just annoying. And yet, it remains undone, just a little
> > > > annoying
> > > > and
> > > > ready to trip us up.
> > > > I was reminded of this phenomena by a recent post about
> > > > purchasing
> > > > something years ago and never getting around to do it.
> > > > Now I belong to a wood carving group, and every once in a while
> > > > we
> > > > declare
> > > > a just "finish it" week, where we bring in our projects and
> > > > complete
> > > > them.
> > > > I know we can't all get together easily, but what if we were to
> > > > promise the
> > > > list to finish just one minor pesky job?
> > > > So I was thinking the weekend of the 26th, which would give us a
> > > > week to
> > > > Procrastinate and Prepare, before Performing the small job.
> > > > My job is the door holder/basket. I have a new one to replace
> > > > the
> > > > old
> > > > broken one. I've had it for several years now, I even know where
> > > > it
> > > > is!
> > > > Safely on the shelf, right there.
> > > > I promise the list to have this job completed the weekend of May
> > > > 26.
> > > > There
> > > > I did it, I am somewhat committed.
> > > > How about you? Any takers?? We all need support, we're not alone
> > > > out
> > > > there.
> > > > ed- 91DoKa with a compulsion to complete something, anything,
> > > > before
> > > > the
> > > > end of next weekend.
> > > --
> > > Tom Buese