T4 lowering thread. |
Post Reply | Page 123 4> |
Author | |
Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Posted: 24 Aug 07 at 20:43 |
Okay, start with a bit of as waffle about how to fit them, as it is sooo simple it's unreal.. To lower the rear.
To lower the front.
So, if you have fitted -50mm springs then moving the adjuster by 20mm will lower the front suspension by 50mm. Obvoiusly, all vans are different so once it's lowered take it for a spin, park it on level ground and check the trim height with a tape measure (wheel centre to wheel arch) and make adjustments to the adjuster nuts as to achieve a level ride. Done, lowered, easy.
The most important part is to check the wheel alignment afterwards, very, very important as the T4 seems to be more affected by camber and tracking changes than the T3 is! Also, we have to mention the rear brake load proportioning valve. Dunno how much you know about these things, so a bit of background first... Under the van, in the middle, between where the rear arms bolt up is a hydraulic valve attached to each arm by the means of springs, going into the valve assembly are 2 brake pipes carrying basically unregulated brake pressure from the front of the van. As the valve is attched to the rear arms it basically reads the suspension height and gives proportionally more braking pressure to the rear brakes the more weight you have in. What cocks this all up is when you lower the van as the valve thinks you have a load in, and gives you more braking effort, which could lead to you locking the rear before the front, which means you could end up in a spin as anyone will remember from their peddaling to school days, locking the back wheel wehn turning usually ends up in tears. Now, they don't tell you that when your buying springs do they?! Thats it, job jobbed.
Spring choices..
Gen VW (888 special springs, white spots) no Pics, soz like, sure you know tho... Coils 7.666 Ends - 9.9mm Thickest part - 19.8mm Overall height - 255mm Gen VW (Caravelle - 1996, 2xbrown spots - heavy duty!! may have had wrong springs fitted!!) No pics. Coils - 6.75 Ends - 10mm Thickest part - 17.9mm Overall height - 270mm H&R (advertised as -20mm to -40mm, depending on spec of van to start with) Coils - 7.5 Ends - 10.2mm Thickest part - 19.7mm Overall height - 242mm TUV Cert - Here KW (advertised as -40mm) Coils 7.25 Ends - 9.1mm Thickest part - 19.4mm Overall height - 245mm TUV Cert - Here Weitec (advertised as -40mm, the lighter duty parallel wire one, the cheaper one) Coils 7.75 Ends - 13.6mm Thickest part - 13.6mm Overall height - 250mm TUV Cert - Here Weitec (the proper ones, the tapered wire ones, the ones that will carry weight) Coils 8 Ends - 10.96mm Thickest part - 18.5mm Overall height - 235mm TUV Cert - Here Eibach - TUV Cert - Here Drop - 45mm Coils - 7.5 Ends - 9.8mm Thickest part - 19.25mm Overall height - 235mm Data not verified, taken from Eibach website's TUV cert. Oh, and anyone ever seen a TUV cert for any Jamex springs? I don't think I ever did when I sold them, they certainly weren't in the box! hhmmm.... So, there you go. The 19mm ain't far off to be fair, but I think it's a bit daft to go saying only anything thats 19mm is "correct" when as you can see from the small range above they vary quite a bit between the brands, the Weitec HD one weirdly having fatter ends and a slimmer middle, but it's not just down to how it's wound and the thickness of the wire it's also down to how the spring is tempered. In all fairness I really don't think you can go far wrong with most of these springs, go for the cheaper Weitec ones if you really don't expect to carry weight, but the difference in price between the other is minimal and they are all TUV approved (hence modest drop) I will say the one I measured that didn't match the TUV cert (That I noticed anyway) was the KW, so, I presume subject to change applies here, or engineering tolerances.. Also worth noting is that I have measured the spring including is surface protection, obviously once this has been stripped away the spring will be much narrower. Simon. Edited by Baxter - 25 Jul 09 at 23:40 |
|
Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Updated, now I'm not as drunk as I was last time! |
|
jets
Groupie Joined: 31 Dec 06 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 143 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Another great writeup, well done. Although I won't be lowering my van I found it interesting. Thanks for the time & work you have put into it. Keep em coming. Once again you don't see anything as good as this on the "other' forum" & this ones FREE.
Edited by jets |
|
Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Cheers. If it has any bearing on anyone reading this I can supply....
I have most on the shelf, the rest can be ordered and be with me in a week from Germany. Anyone for some little used jamex -55's? cheap....
Edited by Baxter |
|
jane/rob&dennis
Groupie Joined: 05 Dec 07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 53 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Oh I don't know there's recently been posted a step by step guide with pictures to fitting the KW kit to a T4 on another pay per view site. Which I do believe was influence by this thread here. An excellent description Simon, drunk or not and the exploded diagrams really helped when it came to changing the front shock. Thanks. |
|
Jane/Rob&Dennis
|
|
Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Feel free to re-post your work here, of if you like it can be made into a permanent tech page and added to the T4 section of the main site if you so wish. Saves it getting lost in the forum ether.
|
|
Discodave
Yardie Joined: 17 Oct 07 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 256 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
i would like to add to the list of tools you will need!
you might need an acytelene torch! i did! one of the rear shock bushes was seized to the mouting bolt! set fire to it and all was well! |
|
Smilo
Groupie Joined: 25 Aug 05 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 56 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Our 2003 lhd Westy was leaning to the left, i.e. the same side as 16 stone me (yeah, don't stop smoking), and the fitted furniture. And the fuel tank?? And the water tank?? It had been leaning for 6 months or more, but not, I think, for the previous 12mths of our ownership. I had JK "heavy duty" springs and Boge shocks fitted onto the back which made the handling much less rolly, so I was pleased. But the lean, easily enough for me to notice, was still there, no difference at all. Last week a local garage wound the front nearside up and that feels better and has reduced the van's slight, but long term pull to the left. Tyre wear seems to be even. Now I've run out of ideas and so have two local garages. I've tried ignoring the lean, but that doesn't work for me. Is there anywhere else to make adjustments? Edited by Smilo |
|
http://sumdoood.blogspot.com/
|
|
BANANABUS
Vanorak More Like BanBus! Joined: 01 Jul 07 Location: W YORKS Status: Offline Points: 1987 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
you might wanna have a look here ! At mr Baxters new toys! http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22930& amp;KW=westy+lean |
|
Smilo
Groupie Joined: 25 Aug 05 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 56 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Good shout.
|
|
http://sumdoood.blogspot.com/
|
|
majbishup
Not Quite Newbie Joined: 15 May 08 Location: cornwall Status: Offline Points: 31 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Nice 1 baxter. I got 1 for u what happens to the brake bias when i get round to fitting adjustable air bags and more to the point is it even poss with torshion bar on front. Maj.
|
|
Superstyle Dan
Not Quite Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 08 Location: Midlands Status: Offline Points: 22 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Just to clarify chaps on the tools front for lowering the torsion bar, are you using a deep set socket or a 27mm spanner?
Thanks |
|
Hit me up for T4 Camper Conversions as well as Sport seats exclusivly for a T4
|
|
DeeDub
Yardie Joined: 18 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 733 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
spanner would be best |
|
Dave
|
|
Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
The VW tool is a very deep 27mm socket.
Spanner would take ages, socket on an air gun takes seconds, so long as the nut isn't siezed.
|
|
Superstyle Dan
Not Quite Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 08 Location: Midlands Status: Offline Points: 22 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Nice one fella's thanks for the hedz up.
Got a spanner to do the job, was just wondering if their was some special fangled way of doin it that I might have missed. Left side was a doddle right side had to construct some kind of hybrid, tourqe wrench meets 27 mmm socket meets jammed in spanner to get leverage took two of us to get it wound down even with it soaked in plus gas, one pushin one side ad one pullin the other, a little heath robinson i admit but it worked in the end. Thanks Dan |
|
Hit me up for T4 Camper Conversions as well as Sport seats exclusivly for a T4
|
|
Baxter
Admin Group Scruff Daddy Joined: 29 May 04 Location: Huddersfield Status: Offline Points: 8060 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Thems the ones when the upper mount becomes dislodged!
Lucky boys if it came loose for you.
|
|
majbishup
Not Quite Newbie Joined: 15 May 08 Location: cornwall Status: Offline Points: 31 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
baxter, i know you can get air bags for the rear but i want to be able to raise and lower the complete van. 1st is it possible with a torsion bar and if it is do you know of anything or anyone who sells such a unit be it air or oil. cheers maj.
|
|
ole carter
Newbie Joined: 08 Jul 08 Status: Offline Points: 9 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Just a heads up for Mr Baxter....... for the supply and fit of the billy b6's,h&r springs and roll bar..
top job,top bloke......(not much tea makin though...)
completely transformed the van....tickety boo
Cheers Andy
|
|
Lint
Newbie Joined: 28 Nov 08 Status: Offline Points: 8 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I'm about to buy that deep socket from Hazet £26+Vat
Edited by Lint - 28 Nov 08 at 14:58 |
|
brenton
Newbie Joined: 15 Apr 08 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 5 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
ive adjusted the fronts about 5 times with just a spanner, you should be able to get it save the money for beer lol cheers brenton |
|
Post Reply | Page 123 4> |
Tweet |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |