For the sake of keeping it all in one place, I am replying to this old thread because it seems to be hot topic for a lot of folks, newbies like me specifically.
Earlier in this thread, there was a question/comment about using PVC as a spacer. Since my garage is my patio, I am limited in what I can do in the way of metal fabrication, so the PVC idea was interesting to me. Sure enough professionals are using PVC as spacers. Sorry if I duplicated and part of the thread, but i thought the pic was helpful and did not see one in the original post.
The original post for this article and other related information can be found here:
http://www.le-suspension.com/le-blog/Fork Spring Spacers - April 7, 2012When I need to made a different fork spring spacer I use PVC pipe because it’s inexpensive, easy to get, easy to cut, not effected by oil and is much stronger than it needs to be.
This picture shows a PVC spacer next to some stock plastic, aluminum and steel spacers.
The stock plastic spacer on the right has a wall thickness less than half the thickness of the PVC pipe.
I made this post because a few people over the years have been surprised when they found out about the PVC. If the idea of a PVC spacer drives you crazy just let me know and I’ll be happy to use something else.