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Perhaps a bit anxious wondering if we were too impulsive having significant suspension work done on the road, we arrived at Valley Spring Works in Dixon at 3:30 for work scheduled the next day. Within minutes of speaking to Bill who designs and engineers springs for everything from missiles, ocean drilling, automotive recall issues, refineries to niche work with RoadTrek folks like us, we chilled and camped out in the parking lot for the night.
Perhaps a bit anxious wondering if we were too impulsive having significant suspension work done on the road, we arrived at Valley Spring Works in Dixon at 3:30 for work scheduled the next day. Within minutes of speaking to Bill who designs and engineers springs for everything from missiles, ocean drilling, automotive recall issues, refineries to niche work with RoadTrek folks like us, we chilled and camped out in the parking lot for the night.
This post is for my friends interested in mechanics. Apologies to others who may want to fast forward. I will never remember everything that happened or was said but
Bill was the kind of person who wanted us to understand everything about the
van and know what he was doing. The front end was where the math, calibration
and most time were needed. He checked tires, brakes, shocks, grease fittings,
even the steering gear box and then measured and tested the existing springs. I
missed the coil spring part doing laundry but believe that the new springs were
measured, calibrated, heated (or calibrated by heat) and powder coated. I only
wished Harry had picked the color red instead of black. It would have made for better
photos.
The left rear had bottomed out and he questioned
how the van was set up – placement of the generator, refrig, water tanks.
Clearly most of the weight was on the left. He re-arched 3 of the existing
leaf springs and added 2 new tapered leaves per side with each side calibrated
separately for the load they would bear. The tapered leaves, thicker in the
middle and tapering on the ends, was something new to give a more comfortable
ride in the back. All new bolts, nuts, U bolts and all 8 grease fittings per
side lubed, some probably for the first time because they were completely dry and
took a whole tube of grease. These guys put in a long day and the light was
fading towards the end but what a great job they did. We now have a custom suspension system designed for the weight we carry and at least an extra 6” of height!
Too late to go far but far enough to know the van handles
beautifully, we went back to Lake Solano CG for the night. Tomorrow with a 90 mile
run to Bodega Bay will be my chance to drive but the ride this evening was so
much more comfortable and the handling a huge improvement. Prior to the lift,
the van had developed a real bounce making me feel like Raggedy Ann and now it
is smooth! I can’t say enough
about Spring Valley Works. They were worth the drive.
