Advice...... Spring/suspension/lifting options.

[KarlT]

Hi all.
My lovely Tristar was looking alittle lop-sided..... Helen get out of the passenger seat I yelled......

No, on further investigation, one of the rear (pig tails) springs had snapped at the top, allowing spring to move 1" to the back.

Okay, I need to replace it, not too bad a job, but I'd also like to raise it abit. Nothing radical.... 20/25mm but don't want to lose any of the ride quality of the Tristar. Springs are obviously 20 odd years old, so thinking about replacing them all.

What are my options......

Normal springs with spacers..................... Where?
2WD fronts & original rears with spacers...... Where?
Other brand, longer springs...................... What & where?

All advice appreciated.

[KarlT]

Please consider.......
This is a lightly used doka, not a full heavy camper

[ghost123uk]

Could you utilise these = spring spacers along with some new springs (old ones will have sagged a bit), that would hike it up a bit ?

[ghost123uk]

Coincidence = watch this topic for replies also = https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=107116" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[hugomonkey]

ive got standard shocks from brickwerks on my doka with shock extenders front and back and go westy springs and it rides great, im really pleased
regards

[jed the spread]

Here you go Karl, get yourself some 2wd springs fro the front and do this to the rears http://campervanculture.com/2011/02/how ... ttle-cash/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Jed

[syncropaddy]

Ignore all of the above and fit new springs as close to the original as possible and get a front and rear lift kit from Syncro Services. It is after all a lightly used vehicle and the 2WD fronts will make a light vehicle very bouncy. It did to my Multivan which is a tad heavier than your Tristar and it made it uncomfortable. Keep it as standard as possible with a little lift ..... you know it makes sense

[toomanytoys]

This is what mine has..
std springs all round,
Front - monroe van magnum front shocks, 15mm busman spacers, home made shock top mount spacer
Rear - Brickwerks AVO long ajustable shocks, VW TD spacers. HD CV joints (944)..

Ride great, nice and controled empty and advantage of clicking up the rear damping when loaded..

[jed the spread]

Ignore all of the above

How rude

Does "ignore all the above" mean you know better, owned and driven a Doka most days for the last five years and covered 40,000 miles in it, or all the above comments are a load of tosh because the comments from people above are wrong and they are all full of sh!te? Do we all just bother not posting to help people any more and change the forum name to SyncroPaddy knows best about everything

jed

[axeman]

I don't know about the 2wd drive springs, but I don't like the idea of them as they went designed for a syncro, there are several after market springs avalible,namely seikel's and trailmaster, seikle's were designed for doka's they are no question stiffer, but give a fantastic ride and handleing to a doka and the quality of them is very high.

I cant comment on the trail masters but the write up dose look encrouging.

Neil

[syncropaddy]

Ignore all of the above

How rude

Does "ignore all the above" mean you know better, owned and driven a Doka most days for the last five years and covered 40,000 miles in it, or all the above comments are a load of tosh because the comments from people above are wrong and they are all full of sh!te? Do we all just bother not posting to help people any more and change the forum name to SyncroPaddy knows best about everything

jed

No it means none of the above, it just means I read Karls posts, and no the forum doesn't need a name change cuz I dont need my own forum/website to keep my ego boosted.

[jed the spread]

Seikel rear springs bind at the back even with a light MV/DJ engine on the close wound spring area in the middle on the rear springs and especially on the Dokas as I have personally been told by someone with a Doka running an MV engine and now they bind still on a heavy engine conversion. Jake had them on his Westy and he has gone the new heavy duty option on the rears as they have literally worn themselves flat and were only using a couple of coils. A few years ago when the Euro was week against the pound the Seikel springs were the only other option against the VW ones with the week pig tails so it was arguably an sensible alternative as they cost the same as the VW ones. Since the collapse of the pound against the Euro I only know one person that has bought them since for a shed load of money and they said they bind at the back and with what I have seen while working on Jakes van and the latest evolution of springs for the same price would be a better choice maybe that are an upgrade on a set of Seikels that snapped in Mongolia. Like you say Karl the Doka is not used that often and the same look can be done for £150 rather than £1800+ and to be honest from what I have seen works as good if not better.


You Pays your money you takes your chance

Jed

(ps Syncoandy had a set of front 2wd springs on his, Russel has a set on his Orange ultimate Doka, I know of a few more that have used them and love them. I have a set that are going on mine this weekend if I get time as I want to start off roading it again *not that mine means much *)



jed

[jed the spread]

I dont need my own forum/website to keep my ego boosted.

Ah see, if you ever did anything in your van 480,000 people might think your interesting too

If I get time to do the springs this weekend Karl I will video it and hope you find it useful

jed

[syncropaddy]

I dont need my own forum/website to keep my ego boosted.

Ah see, if you ever did anything in your van 480,000 people might think your interesting too

jed

480,000 people ..... impressive

Here's another figure ... 7,032,520,001 ..... thats the amount of people who dont give a sh?te what you do in your van!

Can we be civil now please?

[jed the spread]

I dont need my own forum/website to keep my ego boosted.

Ah see, if you ever did anything in your van 480,000 people might think your interesting too

jed

480,000 people ..... impressive

Here's another figure ... 7,032,520,001 ..... thats the amount of people who dont give a sh?te what you do in your van!

Can we be civil now please?

I am not being funny, but what are you doing

jed