Description

Schwenk Syncro Lift Springs. Known as the best in the business, Schwenk springs have been developing and constantly refining their springs for 2WD and Syncro’s for over twenty five years. It is with great pleasure that we can offer these springs in Europe in the near future. Schwenk spring sets work to put the suspension within stock limits which give better performance and longevity. The spring sets have been the result of 25 years of testing and development and work to put the suspension within stock limits which give better performance and longevity. You will not need to buy other bolt on bits to alter your suspension such as ball joint spacers or shock extenders, your CVs will run at the right angles etc as the springs keep the van within the stock specs which is where it is happy.

• For full Westys and other heavy Syncros Increased ride height & suspension travel.
• Modestly stiffer than stock springs
• Work well with all major shock brands
• Designed for dual-purpose on- / off-road us

The Schwenk Syncro Lift springs are for Dual-Purpose use on Westfalia Syncros , and other heavier syncros. The springs are true to the syncro’s heritage and provide real off-road performance and capability while still providing very good on-road performance. The springs provide increased ride-height and suspension travel, are modestly stiffer than the stock springs, and are well matched to the damping of all major shock brands. The springs are designed to maximize the potential and performance of the stock syncro suspension. When used with Radflo, Old Man Emu or Bilstein B6 shocks and struts, the Syncro Westy D/P Springs provide the most economical way to obtain a matched set of springs and shocks that deliver outstanding performance without having to spend thousands of dollars or having to modify the stock suspension components.

Goals & Objectives

These springs were designed with the goals of:
(1) increasing ride height and suspension travel while remaining within VW specs.
(2) increasing stiffness modestly in order to improve handling and stability, and
(3) providing a high-quality spring that performs well on and off the road. VW only made one spring for all T3 Syncros, whether they were for light passenger vans or heavy Syncro Westfalia camper vans.
The Syncro Westy D/P Spring is designed for dual-purpose use primarily on the heavier Syncros. By narrowing the focus of this spring to a smaller range of vehicle weights and characteristics, we are able to provide a spring that performs better on those vehicles than stock springs, or any spring sold by our competitors.

Spring Rate

The spring rate for the Syncro lift springs is the result of over a year of testing five different sets of springs with different rates, including three different sets of prototypes we had made, on a variety of synchros under a variety of conditions. We worked closely with a veteran spring engineer to translate our testing into a design that would achieve our ultimate goals. The result is a spring rate that strikes an ideal balance between on and off-road performance, and a rate that works very well within the damping specs of off-the-shelf shocks for the Syncro. The ride is more stable and firmer on paved roads than stock springs, but it remains supple – as the Syncro suspension was intended to be. It is a little more spirited than stiff springs designed for pavement-only would be, but the overall stability, handling, and cornering is very good. Off-road, the springs perform very well. They are softer than any other after-market spring. As a result, they soak up the bumps better. They also provide superior traction. The springs are not harsh on bumps and freeway joints like stiffer springs are. The shocks perform better than with stiffer springs as well since they are within damping specs.

We Do Not Use a Progressive Coil – These are Straight Wound Springs. The springs are straight wound coils. We do not use variable-rate coils because they result in a performance compromise and often do not work as intended. Variable wound coils entail a loss of travel. In addition, the weight-range under which the softer coils are actually effective is quite narrow – with the result that they are often fully, or nearly fully compressed (and hence non-functional) under the static weight of a moderately loaded heavier syncro. Straight wound coils provide a more consistent and progressive feel throughout a greater range of travel, resulting in superior overall suspension performance.

Chrome Silicon Steel

The springs are made of Chrome Silicon pre-tensioned steel. Chrome Silicon is the best material available for automotive springs primarily because it does not sag like other spring steel does, but also because it can be wound to closer tolerances as well, meaning more accurate and consistent spring rates across the manufacturing process.

Ride Height

With the use of thin shims for fine-tuning, these springs allow a range of possible ride heights from roughly 48.26-49.53 cm (19.0″ to 19.5″) on an empty Syncro Westfalia. This range of possible ride heights permits optimal suspension performance. The vehicle has enough “sag” under static weight to move up and down over terrain utilizing the maximum range of travel the suspension provides. The increased height also provides additional suspension travel.

Schwenk does not advise a ride height above 49.53cm (19.5″) for a number of reasons. Heights above 49.53cm (19.5″) result in:
(1) result in a loss of range of suspension travel and performance;
(2) result in greater stress to CV joints and higher rates of failure;
(3) do not permit the vehicle to be aligned to VW spec., and
(4) result in more “lean” and increased risk of roll-over on roads at freeway speeds (as is true with any taller spring on any vehicle).

Without shims, these springs will provide an empty Syncro Westy with a ride height of roughly 48.26cm (19”), measuring from the center of the wheel/axle to the lower lip of the mudguard. A 3mm shim upfront and a 5mm shim in the rear will provide ride-height of roughly 48.89 cm (19.25″) on an empty Syncro Westfalia. For ride height of roughly 49.53cm (19.5”), a 6mm (1/4”) shim upfront and a 9.5mm (3/8″) shim in the rear are utilized.

This ideal range of ride height – from 48.26-49.53 cm (19.0″ to 19.5″) – allows for adaptability to a wide range of Syncros, tires, height and handling preferences, and uses, all within stock specs.

The Importance of Shocks

The performance of your suspension depends not only on the coil springs, but also on the shocks and struts. Worn shocks will cause your new coil springs to feel too bouncy and cornering will suffer. Make sure your shocks and struts are in good condition when you install your springs. For best performance, we advise using either Radflo, Old Man Emu or Bilstein B6 shocks and struts.

The Importance of Tires & Tire Pressure

Most people do not realize it, but tires also act as part of the vehicle suspension system when they flex and rebound. As a result, your overall suspension performance depends in part on your tires. If you have the wrong tires mounted (not stiff enough side-wall), or worn tires, your suspension performance and handling will suffer. Be sure to use tires rated for the GVW of the Syncro.

THESE ARE PREORDER ITEMS BEFORE ORDERING, PLEASE READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS BELOW:
Pre orders require payment to be made at checkout.
Please note that due to the nature of pre-order items, we will not be accepting cancellations.
We cannot estimate or guarantee a specific ship date so we cannot guarantee products will be available in a month. We will ship orders the moment they are available.
Sometimes the ordered items will arrive later than a month due to several factors (eg: customs )
Please do not order if you are unable to wait.
If you combine in-stock and pre-ordered items, ALL items will be shipped at once when all pre-ordered items are available.
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