Club 80-90 Forums

Yeah stiffer is the wrong word. I meant firmer. My van was modified by Jean Louis Brion and when I spoke to him at Vanfest he said he (thinks) he put stiffer 2wd springs on the front. Not OE ones. I'll email him and ask if he knows who made em.

The problem I have at the moment may very well be down to worn bushes. It is a bit wallowy. If I go a bit quick into a corner then it feels as if the van doesn't want to turn in. My old red van was awesome on road (as well as off). I could throw it around the twists and turns of the Scottish mountains with confidence. With my new van I just can't seem to make the same sort of progress because I don't have confidence in the front suspension. Which is a shame as I have a rather nice running 190bhp VR6 in the back.

I will have to take it in to the Syncronutz boys and get them to have a look at what I have and let them advise me of my best option.

I know I need at least one rear shock as the OS one is starting to knock so thought I would investigate changing all 4.

slobbo wrote:With my new van I just can't seem to make the same sort of progress because I don't have confidence in the front suspension.

How do you know that the issue is in the front suspension? If youv'e got a suspect issue in the rear end then your problems could be in the back and not the front.

From you description of your van, it seems as though you've got to go back to basics IMHO. Everything seems to be modified - ride height, springs, wheels, dampers ....... and the more you modify the further you get from the original. As regards suspension systems, Colin Chapman (Lotus) always used soft springs and firm dampers, BUT he matched the dampers to the springs AND the car. As far as I know there is only one place you can get a matched suspension set up for a Syncro and thats from VW and its as close as you are gonna get.

A nice new set of standard springs and standard dampers would be a good place to start IMHO. Then add the spacers to jack it up ......

Very good point Paddy. Could be just the answer I am after.

I bet the wheel alignment is on the pi$$.

Bog? Bog? that swear filter should at least change p!ss into something funny that you know what it means, but bog? come on..

It drives in a straight line. Bushes squeek and squeal. Tyre balance is out - 3 times on the balaner and still out. Have put about 1000 miles on the tyres now so will try again.

Sounds a bit like mine was till Mr Baxter gave it a good fettling,"Just" needed camber & castor issues sorting ,was like having power steering fitted.

yes the OME will fully extend when you take off the clip that's kept them compressed in the transit packaging which makes fitting them easier, I believe there was a problem with leaks so maybe Neils weren't fully charged ?

Rob, why don't you come over and check out the OME shocks and Seekial H/D springs on my Doka and then you will have some idea
as just how hard you want your teeth to rattle when you upgrade your suspension..................

It would appear I have reinforced 2wd Spidan springs. They make OE springs as well. Don't know how that compares with the stock syncro springs or the Seikel springs but I think I might just get my bushes sorted out first then see how it goes.