suspension, higher & harder ride sought.

[lughole]

so, ill go new standard syncro springs on front with avo's on the front. thats all good.

for the back; seikle springs and how about a taking a punt of the trailmaster dampers? on busman theres a 'heavy duty' version, anyone know anything about them?

perhaps im getting closer to a solution here...

spring assisters? i know nutheen of thees.

harrymann-
i chip into the back but i also carry lots of elm too (bloody heavy) im reasured by the weights youve had in the back of yours! im being really nice to this wagon atm, till i get all the suspension done.
im very interested about brickwerks poly bushes and can understand why, but know nothing of rack bushes or how that would help due to not being having the understanding of the mechanics of it.

ive got a seriously dry looking top ball joint that makes a horrible racket so thats on the list too. should i be changing any other bushes whilst im getting into all this?
exhaust coming from sweden too shortly, an expensive month and heres me considering truck mirrors!

[ericos_bob]

Go for progressive springs from syncro-services.com or the 2"lift springs from gowesty. Definitely best of both worlds and H&R cold wound spring quality is hard to beat! Leaves you plenty of dosh for a good set of shocks dare I say old man emu? I wanted seikel springs too and went to a lot of effort trying to source some cheaper stock only to find out bernd jaeger has sales rights to these springs now which means no competition and plenty a high price. Make sure the front end matches the rear or you'll have nose dive problems galore.

[syncropaddy]

so, ill go new standard syncro springs on front with avo's on the front. thats all good.

for the back; seikle springs and how about a taking a punt of the trailmaster dampers? on busman theres a 'heavy duty' version, anyone know anything about them?

I've got a seriously dry looking top ball joint that makes a horrible racket so thats on the list too. should i be changing any other bushes whilst im getting into all this?

Syncro Services has all the HD spring kits, HD shocks, bushes and ball joints you will need. His stuff is top quality, well priced and he's a really good bloke. Trailmaster is a good brand and who else makes shocks AND springs for the same vehicle other that VW!!

Look at this page http://www.syncro-services.com/index_modi_eng.html and go into 'Drivetrain, Decoupler and Wheels' section. Its all there with full explanation. The more questions you ask the more confused you'll get!!

[hotpod]

keeno thought i should contribute to this thread because i have had seikel springs and old man emu shocks on my 16" doka for 5 years now. i love them.
i cant remember all the reasons for that particular choice now though. i think it was because of the lift and they seemed to be the heaviest duty ones i could find at the time. i tend to do as much off roading as possible with and without loads. it does get a lot of use off road and i have no complaints. last weekend i was dragging an 60 foot oak out of the woods and dong some stump removal. ( videos on you tube soon )
my comment to keeno was that the main difference is that the camper ( 16" high-top westy on standard springs and shocks) is much more comfortable driving down bumpy lanes than the doka. so theres that firmer ride you are after. the seikels definitely have that. the doka definitely feels more capable in anything more taxing than an unmade road.
so for my conclusion, there may well be better options than the seikels but i couldnt tell you what they are, but they will do what you are asking and i don't think you will have any complaints.

[HarryMann]

Ive got a seriously dry looking top ball joint that makes a horrible racket

Balljoint or inner wishbone bush (squeaking over bumps)?

Ignore rack bushings...

[lughole]

ericosbob - thanks for the advice, esp matching both ends of the vehicle. didnt know that was a no-no. so thanks.

harrymann- yeh, when it goes over bumps it squeaks, i rekon its the top ball joint.

many thanks for your input hotpod, ill cost up the ome and seikles together, so jager has the sole rights to seikles? ive got a kinda sick feeling this is gonna cost!

best place to buy OME's? anyone...

paddy- thanks for the site refrence, starting to build a picture of where all the spares come are aviailable. cheers.

now for some financial calculations, just spent £2K on a trailer last night too. oh dear!

[syncropaddy]

Sounds like top wishbone bushes and not a ball joint.

[lughole]

Sounds like top wishbone bushes and not a ball joint.

ive posed this question a couple times but no one answered, as im putting the car on the ramp and getting involved in the suspension, is there any other bushes i should just change as par the course?

[HarryMann]

Sounds like top wishbone bushes and not a ball joint.

Top ball joint either has play in it or not, but won't squeak AFAIK, hence the original question. The rubber top inner wishbone bush will and does, usually when old or delammed, so Pad's probably right

[lughole]

ill order up a bush fae the top wishbone then.
cheers to everyone with the input, ill get some photos of the van on here, when all the works are done.
spent a fortune last night on parts and new stihl kit, there goes the wifes new kitchen, im sure she'll be happy with the seikle springs for her xmas!

[ericos_bob]

so jager has the sole rights to seikles? ive got a kinda sick feeling this is gonna cost!
Yep no other options for new seikels unfortunately. Maybe you can find a used set. Know there's a bloke on the aussie syncro club who has a set of seikels with low use that is unhappy with the harsh ride.

best place to buy OME's? anyone...
Van-cafe! Problem is your location would mean shipping may be the killer. That said if you can get them shipped for under a 115us would still be cheaper than buying from some european vendors. I paid around 200au to have a full set sent from US to australia by airmail and still ended up paying slightly less than aussie dealers quoted me on a set. It's a joke considering they are made right here in australia.

[jebiga41]

Might be too late but If it was me would go trailmaster route matched shocks and springs all round shocks are also longer so more articulation and height can be adjusted the trailmaster springs are alsoeant to be an upgrade on the seikels and rear shocks can be got in either hd or normal. Springs also are progressive going that route myself for the camper when the heavier springs eventually come out. Whilst your in there in the front would replace all the front bushes, either with poly or normal Baxter supplies the poly and check brakes disc thickness pads shoes drums. Steering rack bushes ( good upgrade the poly ones) check brake lines and do the braided lines swell. Also could give arms etc a quick clean and paint which wouldn't do any harm either search for front end rebuild had a thread with pics and a few other lads have done the same good luck with it.

[HarryMann]

best place to buy OME's? anyone...

Yes, mine came via California, Steve Schwenk I think, slow but cheap ship.. Maad isn't it
That was a long time ago, got two pairs, Andy McClements had the other set.

Same with Albins gears I believe, these sole distribution rights give carte blanche on markups and retail price - ce'st la vie.

I'd be interested to hear some independent reviews of the GoWesty springs

[lughole]

late last night i went for it and spent some money, seikle springs, ome's, upper and lower ball joints, a whoore of bushes, truck mirrors, more business sign writting, found my old landy fogs, a bloke that lives locally let me have a look over his syncros and had some spare goodies lying around at home - smoked lights and a pretty sweet jack. also purchased a new ifor williams twin axle trailer.
Im truly broke! which is a shame as a think ive convinced myself to get a decoupler, shall cruise past posts thoroughly before i start noising fowk up.
so, big changes- got that terrible wait for everything to arrive.

[syncropaddy]

keep us informed on the springs