At 05:18 PM 6/8/98 -0700, you wrote:
>Derek,
>
>It seems you have had you Syncro suspension apart aa few times now.  I am
>running two donuts in the rear.  Are yours all on top or one on top and one
>on the bottom?

I have three extra ones together with the factory original one so I have
four total on top in the rear. I have been driving like this for, like,
five years now an never had a hint of a problem doing it so it is a no
brainer.

>I have a question about the front suspension.  Is the spring perch
>removeable like it is on a Golf or a Rabbit?  If it is then it is very easy

I don't think it is removeable but I am not sure.

>to raise the front end with some thick walled pipe that has the same ID as
>the OD of the pipe.
>
>I was talking to a fellow in Vancouver who has a Syncro and he lifted his
>about 2.0".  I questioned this because of the lack of travel in the CV
>joints and he told me he used Audi 5000 Turbo CVs as they have extra travel
>and they are the same size as the 16" Syncros in Europe... any thoughts on
>this?

Sounds very advanced and very smart. Very interesting to hear about this. I
think we have CVs in size 90 but there is a 100 size in the european
microfiche I have so I'd be interested in that.

>Anyhow.  I want to get the front of my Syncro up about 1" so I have 30cm as
>my lowest point with my 225/60 16" tires... Any help you can give would be
>great!

I will be doing this soon, possibly with the help of John Anderson if we
both have time. I think the issue about increasing the angle of the CVs is
a serious and valid concerns. See the archives for posts from
derekdrew@aol.com or drew@interport.net for much more information on this
important issue.

>At 13:37 6/8/98 -0400, you wrote:
>>At 10:25 AM 6/8/98 -0700, you wrote:
>>>Thanks, Derek.  I have checked it out.
>>>
>>>Did you ever go forward with the springs and shocks?  What do you run for
>>>shocks?
>>
>>I run stock shocks and springs partly on the observation that a more supple
>>suspension is better for ordinary off-roading as opposed to off-road
>>racing. Too stiff and the car bounces around a lot.
>>
>>I have about three doughnuts per side in the back. I have not yet raised
>>the front.
>>
>>>Also, I just got a couple of the donuts for the rear spring I was going to
>>use
>>>to try to balance out my syncro sag...listing to the left.  Didn't you use
>>>these to pre-load and stiffen your rear suspension?  Do you think using
just
>>>one on the left rear would work re the sag...or do you think it would throw
>>>things off to much?
>>
>>The vehicle is much heavier on the left rear that the other three corners,
>>which are all otherwise equal in weight. Therefore, possibly it makes sense
>>to put one doughnut under the left rear. I have not done so, however.
>>
>>>Your sister has a syncro now, too???  Wow.  I have to meet this family.
:~)
>>>steve
>>
>>I infected her with my enthusiasm.
>>
>>>Derek Drew wrote:
>>>
>>>> This subject has been fairly heavily researched and there is
>information in
>>>> the archives. Good to encourage Ron to get into it, though.
>>>>
>>>> At 09:39 AM 6/8/98 -0700, you wrote:
>>>> >Ron:
>>>> >I still feel bad that the shock thread ran astray with you and me
>>>> >getting  into that fray.  I was thinking that it would be nice to make
>>>> >something positive out of it.  Several syncro owners p-mailed me
>>>> >inquiring about what rear shocks are available for syncros.  Others
>>>> >p-mailed seconding my observation that the KYB's are not a great choice
>>
>>________________________________________________________
>>Derek Drew                              New York, NY & Washington, DC
>>drew@interport.net
>>'90 Syncro Westfalia...
>>...seen off-road at http://www.tiu.net/~des/vw/drew/index.html
>>         Note: most valuable Vanagon sites on the planet (for owners) are:
>>         1) http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?S1=vanagon
>>        2) ftp://gerry.vanagon.com/pub/
>>
>>
>
>-- David Marshall, Quesnel BC, mailto:david@volkswagen.org --
>   -- 78 1.8L VW Rabbit, 80 2.0L VW Caddy, 87 Audi 5KQ  --
>   --  85 1.8L VW Cabrio, 88 1.6L VW Syncro Double Cab  --
>   --   Volkswagen Homepage http://www.volkswagen.org   --
>     --  USE DAVID@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG WHEN SENDING EMAIL  --
>
_____________________________________________________
Derek Drew                           New York, NY & Washington DC
ConsumerSearch
drew@interport.net
212-580-6486 (W)
212-580-4459; 202-966-0938 (H)