suspension, higher & harder ride sought.

[ericos_bob]

Yeah I'm interested in hearing how the seikel/ome shock combo works out for you. It's strange to think you've spent lots of money on a vehicle that is designed to suit even the most modest budget. I'd simply get used to being flat broke owning the syncro lol. Next you buy a decoupler, than some nice alloys. maybe some 16"trailing arms. Oh and let's fix the gearing up to match those big tires while we're at it. How bout a subaru engine? Oh wait and lets convert it to a camper. Before you know it you've blown 4 or 5 times what you paid for the car and never got around to driving it Story of my life

[..lee..]

dont think the syncro was ever designed to fit a modest budget.

[lughole]

tell me about it.
im wondering how much im gonna get charged for a carb rebuild...
its not my usual garage thats doing it, my usual garage refered me there as they reckon i should take to a proper car tuning place.
so, along with the list above of bits and bobs, i havent even thought of my time and garage time to fit this little lot.
exhaust coming too.
4 k for vehicle, must be up to 3k spent on bits
im telling myself its all worth while over and over, over and over. it is worth it ,no?
i suppose i would normaly spend this overa space of time but the sale of the othe bus has let me just go for it.
really tempted by the decoupler too...hmmm.

[ericos_bob]

im telling myself its all worth while over and over, over and over. it is worth it ,no?
i suppose i would normaly spend this overa space of time but the sale of the othe bus has let me just go for it.
really tempted by the decouple too...hmmm.

Yeah well as you can see the problem isn't all the syncro itself so much as it is us, the owners! I would say atleast 80% of what I've blown on the syncro has something to do with modifying it away from stock specifications and that costs big dollars. For me many of these upgrades must also be sourced internationally adding to the cost. Being an older car and often not well maintained means many used syncros may need to have running gear, body and chassis issues sorted all at once and I would always factor this in the cost when buying a syncro. But yes once these problems are sorted and one were able to remain contempt with their stock syncro it wouldn't be pulling money out of ones pockets as readily. I don't see why a well sorted syncro should not deliver the many thousand trouble free miles as any other vehicle of its time.

[HarryMann]

Im truly broke! which is a shame as a think ive convinced myself to get a decoupler,

Save your money, VW nor SDP thought one was necessary... you're not rock-climbing are you?

[lughole]

Im truly broke! which is a shame as a think ive convinced myself to get a decoupler,

Save your money, VW nor SDP thought one was necessary... you're not rock-climbing are you?

not exclusivley. talked to few folk and there was chat along lines of vehicle / component longlevity, not of fuel consumption( apparently very slight ). just searching old posts and the wiki on that too.
iam saving the money now, just looking to the future.

[syncropaddy]

Im truly broke! which is a shame as a think ive convinced myself to get a decoupler,

Save your money, VW nor SDP thought one was necessary... you're not rock-climbing are you?

I totally agree, save your money. Those that have bought them convince themselves that they are the best thing ...... but in reality its simply something else to go wrong. And go wrong they do!

That'll start another row .....

[lughole]

understood! scratched from the list...

[HarryMann]

Pad, is that a wetsuit she's unzipping by any chance...

If not it should be

[syncropaddy]

Pad, is that a wetsuit she's unzipping by any chance...

If not it should be

There has to be something really smutty to say there .....

[lughole]

Pad, is that a wetsuit she's unzipping by any chance...

If not it should be

There has to be something really smutty to say there .....

smuttiest thing i can do is ask about bushes...

im replacing most bushes throughout the suspension, i havent ordered the Radius rod bush sleeves, i was kinda guessing id be ok without, do they get much ware?

[HarryMann]

im replacing most bushes throughout the suspension, i havent ordered the Radius rod bush sleeves, i was kinda guessing id be ok without, do they get much ware?

Its not wear per se, but age and corrosion.. and yes they make a big difference if they haven't been done in 20 ++ years, like many parts of that age


But why don't we let the Wiki do the talking, that's why we started it and continually add to it... https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/St ... and_bushes

[torchy]

It's great all the discussion about "this being better than that" etc etc. My lad does motocross and allways tries to buy the next performance enhancing product on the market? ..but I hav'nt yet seem him achieve better than his stock motor bike.
I have an 18 old truck which is doing OK, if I change out a bush and refit an OEM and it lasts another 18 years (probably double, this is not a daily driver) how good is that!!!.

Great thread on the lifting/springs though thats is certainly worth doing,...the achilles heal...at the front!...I know I'm now well dented

[jebiga41]

I know I'm now well dented

It'll polish out well thats what i keep saying to myself

[lughole]

right then...
tomoras the day to strip the vans suspension down and fit all these bushes, seikle springs and OME dampers, ball joints all the bushes and some other bits.
as this is my work van and we have 2 days to get as much done as possible, so i can get back to work on monday.
tall order? most probably... basicaly - after advice, we are gonna have to do what we think we can manage in the time we have.
tonight ive been advised to concentrate on getting the springs and shocks and worry about the bushes on the second day and keep an eye on the time.
would the job be much longer if i did the springs and shocks first - before the bushes etc?
im guessing it would be quicker to just strip it all down and rebuild but with the danger is having a half built wagon come the working week, so the slower way the safer way??!
just in cast we bu99er something.
how about front shock and springs, then start on the bushes at the back, as a way of discovering the general condition ( ie how nicley they are coming off )??
im gonna take it steady when i get to grips with the bushes.

Any tips would be welcome with bush replacement, very welcome infact. im not using poly bushes btw.

anyone suggest a good bush removing tool?

anyone know what time scales for these jobs? ( its all the suspension bushes im replacing and upper and lower ball joints )

going to photograph all this stuff and shall log on all tommorow and give a general updates on what ive messed up and how far im behind! so if your interested or can advise on snagging on this friday / saturday check this thread during the day the morra.
i'd better get some kip its gonna be a long weekend!