Andreas-springs: Third round

[Mudlark]

My van, Westy syncro 16 was over 3100 kg when I put it on a weighbridge in Holland a few years back. It was fully loaded for holiday and at that time had the bull bars on.

It still has the winch, hot water tank, AFN conversion, Solar Panel, air conditioner unit, roof rack, rear wheel carrier to contend with; but i have to say I am very happy with the ride Im getting now on the Andreas Springs and Trailmaster dampers.

I went with what Andreas recommended for dampers.

It needs to be said that my heavyweight van was on Seikels all round. The rears were coil bound and were pretty unforgiving on the rough stuff. No idea what the original springs would have felt like.

Driving the trails in Spain in October was a pleasure, almost no judder over stoney ground and very sure footed. I drove Patricks van when he drove mine and they are like chalk and cheese; his suspension felt taught to me; but i did compliment him on his smooth wbx after he insulted my 'noisy' diesel

[AndreasLidl]

Hi,
please excuse the late reply.

I've been talking to Mudlark on here about shock absorbers to compliment your springs. He says that Trailmasters are the best and ask your advice about exactly which ones.

Bei den Stoßdämpfern bin ich inzwischen selber in große Zweifel gekommen.
#
The shock absorbers I myself am now in great doubt come.


Für hinten halte ich nach wie vor die Trailmaster "Sport 57060 / Tough 052070" für eine sehr gute Lösung.
#
For the rear I still regard as the Trail Master "Sport 57 060 / 052 070 Tough" for a very good solution.


Nun hat unser Admin vom IG16-Forum ("harix84") etliche Stoßdämpfer auf einem geeichten Prüfstand getestet. Er arbeitet nämlich im Moment im Volkswagenwerk und hat daher diese Möglichkeit.
Dabei hat er festgestellt, dass die Trailmaster-Dämpfer für vorne nur eine sehr schwache Wirkung haben. Das gilt auch für die ganz neuen HD-Dämpfer.
Seinen Bericht findet ihr hier:
#
Now our admin of IG16 Forum ("harix84") has been tested several shocks on a calibrated test bench. He works at the moment by the Volkswagen factory and therefore this possibility.
He noted that the Trail Master dampers for the front have only a very weak effect. This also applies to the complete new HD shocks.
Find his report here:
http://www.ig-syncro16.de/forum/index.p ... c&start=45" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Darum kann ich zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt nur die Trailmaster Dämpfer für hinten empfehlen.
Für vorne hoffe ich selber darauf, dass sich mal eine wirklich gute Lösung findet.
Ich fahre vorne selber Trailmaster Dämpfer, aber zufrieden bin ich damit nicht. Die Dämpfung ist einfach zu schwach.
#
Therefore, I can at this stage only recommend the Trailmaster shock for rear .
For the front I hope myself to the fact that sometimes takes a really good solution.
I drive myself Trailmaster shocks in front, but I am not satisfied with it. The damping is too weak.


Tut mir leid, dass ich zum Thema Stoßdämpfer keine bessere Nachricht für euch habe.
Ich möchte euch aber die Wahrheit sagen, denn ich bin kein Händler, sondern ein normaler syncro-Fahrer wie ihr.
#
I'm sorry that I have no better news about shock for you.
I want to tell you the truth, because I'm not a dealer, but a normal syncro driver like you.


Greetings Andreas

[..lee..]

i have spoken with avo allready about running with these springs and they will re valve the shocks to suit the newer spring poundage. damping rate can be adjusted from too soft to too hard so tweeking can be done to suit your requirements. only downfall is the lower buushes on the front shocks are not really up to spec. i`m waiting for an alternative as is baxter.

cheers lee.

[taigagreen]

i have spoken with avo allready about running with these springs and they will re valve the shocks to suit the newer spring poundage. damping rate can be adjusted from too soft to too hard so tweeking can be done to suit your requirements. only downfall is the lower buushes on the front shocks are not really up to spec. i`m waiting for an alternative as is baxter.

cheers lee.

How about these?

http://gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php? ... parent_id=

[..lee..]

remote res` shocks by fox are bound to be awsome but as mentioned before they have heim joints which will wear off road quickly and become noisey and a pain in the a***.

lee.

[syncropaddy]

remote res` shocks by fox are bound to be awsome but as mentioned before they have heim joints which will wear off road quickly and become noisey and a pain in the a***.

lee.

Americans ..... they think of everything!

[taigagreen]

remote res` shocks by fox are bound to be awsome but as mentioned before they have heim joints which will wear off road quickly and become noisey and a pain in the a***.

lee.

So they are "pooh"?

[..lee..]

well maybe not "pooh", but probally high maintenance,

[AndreasLidl]

Hello,
as I mentioned in the third December've written, I am not satisfied with the Trail Master shocks for the front.
Behind the TM shocks are very good.

Our Admin of IG16Forum has found on a bench at the VW factory, that "Boge shock absorbers" for 16 "Syncros have the strongest effect of all tested dampers.
http://www.ig-syncro16.de/forum/index.p ... c&start=75" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Therefore, I will these dampers installed in my car, and then report the results.

Hallo,
wie ich schon am 3. Dezember geschrieben habe, bin ich mit den Trailmaster-Dämpfern für vorne nicht zufrieden.
Hinten sind die TM-Dämpfer sehr gut.

Unser Admin vom IG16-Forum hat auf einem Prüfstand im VW-Werk festgestellt, dass der Boge-Dämpfer für 16"Syncros die stärkste Wirkung von allen getesteten Dämpfern hat.
http://www.ig-syncro16.de/forum/index.p ... c&start=75" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Daher werde ich diese Dämpfer in mein Auto einbauen, und dann über das Ergebnis berichten.

Greetings Andreas

[..lee..]

i suspect the std 16" dampers will be too short for those springs andreas.

[Mudlark]

Anyone want to take a crack at explaining this in a language other than German



Im interested to know whether i should be concerned that the previously recommended shocks now fitted to my van are now no longer recommended.

Too soft? too dangerous ??

[PetenAli]

Anyone want to take a crack at explaining this in a language other than German



Im interested to know whether i should be concerned that the previously recommended shocks now fitted to my van are now no longer recommended.

Too soft? too dangerous ??

Ahhhh!!! Looks horribly complicated to me. Although it does seem to indicate that Trailmasters are reasonably neutral. Andreas...

[..lee..]

pretty colours.

[syncropaddy]

I did some work many moons ago with a damper manufacturer called Woodhead and then again during my Formula Ford days with a company called Leda and one thing I learned was that matching a damper to a vehicle is a science.

I replaced my dampers with Trailmaster at the rear when I lifted the van and the only difference I can see is that it doesnt top out any more!

[AndreasLidl]

Hallo,

i suspect the std 16" dampers will be too short for those springs andreas.

ja, das stimmt, das hatte ich vergessen zu sagen.
Die Boge-Dämpfer sind etwas zu kurz. Ich werde sie daher mit speziellen Hülsen verlängern, die ich selber anfertige.

yes, that's true, that I had forgotten to say.
The Boge dampers are a bit too short. I will extend it with special sleeves, I prepare myself.

Im interested to know whether i should be concerned that the previously recommended shocks now fitted to my van are now no longer recommended.

Ich fahre ja zur Zeit selber die Trailmaster-Dämpfer, und sie funktionieren gut.
Bei heftiger Geländefahrt habe ich aber das Gefühl, dass die Dämpfung noch etwas kräftiger sein könnte. Darum möchte ich die Boge-Dämpfer testen. Ob das Ergebnis wirklich besser ist, weiß ich jetzt noch nicht.

I'm even currently own the Trailmaster shock absorbers, and they work well.
But in severe off-road I have the feeling that the damping could be even a little stronger. Therefore I would like to test the Boge dampers. Whether the result is really better, I do not know yet.

Sincerely Andreas