[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] [New Search]

Re: [T3] Air filled schlocks


Mike wrote: "How, with these shocks, do the mounts become load-bearing
as opposed to using any other shocks?"

My understanding is that regular shocks don't carry any of the weight of
the car, but simply work as dampners แมหdown the play of the
suspension.  The load of the car is carried by either springs or, in our
case, torsion bars (which are a kind of spring, too).

I don't know exactly what YOUR shocks do; but I was assuming that when
you pump them up, the shocks become more resistant to downward (but not
upward) pressure from the car, and the car actually rises, as they
assume some of the load of the car's weight.  However, maybe the shocks
you have just become stiffer, and simply more resistant to movement
either up or down.

Old VW type2s are also quite susceptible to the saggy ass syndrome; and
people frequently add coil springs over the shocks, or air shocks.  My
'74 has springs over the KYBs in the back, put there by a previous
owner; and I can't say that I've noticed any adverse affects.  However,
when I get this car into the garage for the body work I want to do on
it, I'm going to take them off, because I don't know if the person who
put them on knew what they were doing, and I know that I certainly
don't.  I've heard that these things can cause some bad handling
characteristics, which is already something of a problem in a bus.  You
probably have more room for error with type3s, but unless you understand
all the reasoning of the VW engineers who designed this system, you'd
probably be best off not second guessing their work.

Oh, and my '73 Square (not on the road at the moment) has some PO
installed coils over the shocks too; and these are actually hitting the
mounts, and making a good clank/crunch noise, when I give the bumper a
good downward push.  In addition to being ill advised, these seem to be
poorly installed also.  I thought of this when you mentioned crunching
noises.

Eric Forsman
Baltimore, MD



-------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe? mailto:type3-request@vwtype3.org, Subject: unsubscribe


[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] [New Search]