WANTED Pair of drop spindles

I think Red9 EZ ride system is the way to go. Bit nervous about all the weight being on the front like that but been assured its quite safe. Anyone ever heard of one failing?

 

How low do you really want to go?

 

I just want to take some of the air out of the arches. I don't want it slammed so about 2.5 to 3.5"

 

Quite honestly then I'd drop it a spline (60mm) at the rear and have adjusters fitted to the front beam. With some gas shocks you'll be there and able to still run your standard size wheels and tyres. Either completely remove your anti roll bar, or have it bent.

The lower you go, the more complications there are to overcome, but the first 2-2 1/2" are "free" if you like.

Here's my old Westy, similar to yours and lowered as above (actually permanently at the front, but 60mm).

 

I guess it depends what you're willing to put up with. I've had mine dropped one spline at the back and adjusters on the front with kyb gr 2 shocks on front standard on the rear. Yes I like the look of it, no the ride isn't as good as stock.

I use it as my daily there is no rubbage at all (on stock wheels and tyres). It's fine going around corners and bends but it's unforgiving if you hit pot holes and drive slowly over the traffic calming
I've had this set up for over 2 years now.

Edit zed beat me to it

 

Guys some awesome info thanks. So I assume that anything above 2.5 i.e. if I wanted to go to 3.5 would seriously crap the ride and require me to go, for example, ez ride? Anyone know anyone in West Mids area (I'm in Worcester) who you'd trust to weld in adjusters on the basis I've no clue yet how they work?

 

Might seem like a trek, but there's a chap called Justyn in Hampshire I think who does something silly like a 4 hour lowering service. He has a good name, I believe he drops you off in winchester to amuse yourself while he gets on with it. Reasonable prices too. He used to advertise on ebay.

 

Ye I think I've chatted with that guy before. Found him on vzi and for 300 notes ish he will do front and back. Seems reasonable. I think he installs a slightly different system to the front over and above adjusters which requires a spot of mig to make sure its all held in place. He assures the ride is as best preserved as possible. Whilst its a fixed adjustment it does sound like the best way to go

 

That's how my Westy above was done and I never felt the need to adjust it. I suppose one benifit of adjusters would be the opportunity to DIY back to full height if you just didn't like it at all.

 

He will adjust it up to 3 times too but of course I would need to go to him for that. @zed How did you find it drove after? Is his system any different in terms of ride compared to adding adjusters

 

What gas shocks would you recommend @zed?

 

I'm pretty sure the westy had KYB GR2's, not as hard as the gas-a-just ones.
As you can imagine I drive a few buses and weight wise there is a huge range. It's difficult to recommend one type on that basis.

 

True, ok cheers

 

Hi @zed any more thoughts on the ride query above? You are the only person I know who has had the 'Justyn' adjustment and would value your opinion. I'm thinking this thread should be in Mech Tech now

 

Someone else did mine, but it's the same method. I wouldn't say the ride was remarkedly different from standard.

 

iv Just fitted the red 9 coil overs on my 79 bay was a bit unsure at first as the bottom arm shock mount now takes all the weight fingers crossed it ok but also noticed a little side to side movement on the trailing arms but red 9 said pump greese in should sort it out. But took Bus for MOT and he failed it but then explained the conversion to mot tester and he let it pass. Also it squeaked a lot when I first fitted it.

 

Exactly the same as adjusters except you can't adjust it, but do a poll on here of people with adjusters and I expect you'll find 99 out of 100 are 1 spline down and never adjust it anyway because it's a slight PITA to do and they don't need to do it anyway.

 

So many ways to skin a cat and also so many options, alternatives and views.

I think people are blaming components giving a rubbish ride when its the quality of the gear, such as the spindles or the shock abosorbers and also the way its set up that, that cures all the issues mentioned.

The transporter house drop spindles are the flipped upside down jobs and were the best ones available for the later bays.

These are very soft and people end up running coil overs to try and lessen the travel.

We stock the new cast version which work in the same orientation and way as a stock spindle, (vintage autohaus / french slammer in France)

This is the route I'd go.

A one spline drop at the rear and a set of spindles for the front, new shock all round. It will be much comfier and less bouncy than just welding adjusters into the front beam. There is a yellow and white 76 Devon used in our parts book, that is lowered in this way.

http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_spares...w-AC405310_act_shop.product_pID_161683953.htm

I can do you a deal on a set of these 01444 251 270 or alex@vwheritage.com

By lowering the front beam you put the torsion leaves under more load hence stiffening the ride. Drop spindles bypass this and give a better comfort to the ride. IMO.