[Vwdiesel] Shock opinions

[James Hansen]

Well, adding a spring rubber to both sides would be okay to increase the
rate of the existing spring, provided it hasn't started to crack chunks off
or anything.  I'm talking about the rubbers that are H shaped cross section
and can be cut to do 1/2 turn or a full turn of the spring.  The reason the
spring sags is because the rate has fallen off with use... adding a rubber,
or taking some spring out of the picture by rendering it unuseable increases
the rate of the remaining coils.
Suspension travel would suffer as coil bind would occur if you had to add
too much, but adding a full turn should be okay.  Those little ones that
insert and turn in are useless and just fall out.
Be warned, Loren is however right. Once a passenger car spring begins to
sag, it is wearing out, and will eventually fail when you least desire it,
but spring sag is normal wear for a coil spring.  Even rated springs for
race application are only accurate in rate until used a while.  Then the
rate is different as the uncompressed length begins to decrease.
-James

-----Original Message-----
From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com]On
Behalf Of LBaird119 at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 12:32 AM
To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Shock opinions


  Now hold it.  You want safety, want the car to sit basically level,
don't want to spend money yet you're looking at Bilsteins (long term
investment, but spendy.)  Soft springs will still be soft.  Handling will
be less, rear wheel traction will be less, sag will be more and although
the car shouldn't swash, it will still sway more with less resistance.
  Dude, I can get you a set of new springs for about $50 + shipping.
That's only the price of 1 Boge or 1 1/4 KYB.  :-)  (long term investment
and cheap)
     Loren

In a message dated 10/17/2005 8:20:41 PM Pacific Standard Time,
swright at zuiko.sls.bc.ca writes:

> I know my springs are probably too soft, but I think that some good stiff
> gas shocks
> and new rubber bumpers will at least keep the trunk off the ground. If
not,
> then I'll
> add some rubber doughnuts to prop it up a bit... anything to avoid
spending
> money
> on springs! The last time I spent really money on suspension gear (Boge
Pro
> Gas
> and TT springs in my '82 Scirocco) the car ended up in nose first in the
> ditch soon
> afterward... and not *me* driving either! So I want to spend just enough
to
> make the
> car handle safely, without making it seem invincible. I still cringe every
> time I pass
> that ditch...
> I've heard so many good things about Bilsteins that it's time I tried them
I
> think.
>
>

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