Coil Springs

VW sells only one stiffness in coil springs for all of the syncro configurations despite the great variations in vehicle weight.  As a result, the stock springs are simply too soft for the heavier Westfalia models, and they produce symptoms of "wallowing," "kneeling" and shifting in the wind on the heavier vans.  Moreover, the one-size-fits-all stock springs are expensive at about $1,200 a set.  There are several options available for custom springs that address these problems and also provide increased ride height.

• Syncro.org Syncro and Vanagon Coil Springs:   These high-quality front and rear springs are slightly stiffer (less than 10%) than the stock springs, and thus get rid of the ill-symptoms produced by the too-soft and worn stock springs on most syncros today, but they are close enough in stiffness to the stock rate that the suspension remains supple and responsive.  The springs also raise the ride height of syncro westfalia's roughly .8 -1.25", and thus provide increased ground clearance and more usable suspension travel while still maintaining stock syncro specs for allowable ride height.  (Disclaimer:  we sell these springs, but we also use them and provide an accurate description above. ... despite our obvious bias!)
  

• Auto Seikel   Tested by syncro.org, these are high-quality T-3 syncro springs designed by a pioneer in modifying syncros for off-road competition, including Paris-Dakar.  The down side is that they are very stiff, with double the spring rate of the stock front springs.  This is too stiff for many/most applications and requires the "N" Boge shocks with stiffer damping.  The stock ("C") Boge shocks on USA syncros will not work well or last long with these springs; the damping is much too soft for the stiff spring rate.  However, with the right shocks, these are excellent springs if your use requires a very stiff spring rate.

• Fast Forward Lift Kit:   Fastforward's "lift kit" consists of stiffer and taller front springs and thick steel spacers to be used with the stock rear springs.  The goal with this kit is to lift the van ride height ~ 2".  There are compromises involved in the kit in order to obtain the additional height economically and without the additional cost of a set of rear springs: (1) The new front springs are not matched in height or stiffness to the stock rear springs; (2) The need for the steel spacer for the rear springs effectively limits available suspension travel in the rear by the width of the spacer.  (3) The ride height achieved with the kit leaves less than 1-1.5" of sag, resulting in potential topping-out problems.  For some uses, however, the primary goal of increased lift overrides these concerns.

• Old Man Emu shocks from Australia are better than the stock Boges, and are the only alternative, fully matched set of shocks available for the Syncro off-the-shelf.  Click the link for info.

• Bilstein..Syncro Shocks Project  Monotube technology, adjustable and rebuildable, these custom shocks were hand-fabricated for the Syncro Westfalia and are not available commercially.  Re-worked Bilstein shocks are available from a shop in South Africa.  Custom made monotube shocks from South Africa were also available for some time, but the travel specs were not correct and resulted in the upper control arm hitting the spring on full extension.
  

• Koni Shocks   (Would have to be custom made.)

• Stock Boge Shocks VW Part Numbers for the three different sets of VW Boge shocks available for the syncro are:

Front: 251 413 031 C      standard 14" syncro shock (USA)
251 413 031 M     14'' HD shock "Schlechtwegepaket"
251 413 031 N      16'' syncro shock
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Rear:  251 513 031 D    standard 14" syncro shock (USA)
251 513 031 M    14'' HD shock "Schlechtwegepaket"
251 513 031 N    16'' syncro shock
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• Adjustable Air Springs : Rubber, bladder-like Inserts for the Coil Springs to adjust ride height and suspension stiffness.  These are great for fine tuning the rear suspension for exceptionally heavy loads.