The front of the van is lowered about 3” on a creative engineering standard adjustable beam and gas adjust shocks with standard tires It’s very bouncy and sometimes bottoms out hitting bumps manly when cornering. I was going to try some new dampers but I think some of you found coilovers a help.
Rally designs do a load. There is a link somewhere on here about coilovers for a everso slightly lowered bay to start you in the right direction. Length of the shock will be the main issue. You might need to try a few spring weights but the springs are fairly cheap. The dampers are decent and make a huge difference over stock dampers. They have adjustable damping too so you can wind on more rebound to slow it all down.
2 x Gaz 16" Open, 10.5" Closed Length Coil over Shock (160/105/B12) 2 x 1.9", 140 Rate, 10" Free Length (RD1.9/140/10) That's what I got. I went to a 180 spring to raise it up a bit. You might need a shorter shock if it's lowered lots
I’ve got Koni classic (red) adjustable dampers (1 1/2 turns front, 2 turns rear) and an upgraded front anti roll bar on Major. The handling is really nice now, not bouncy over bumps like it used to be & on these Scottish roads a pleasant drive.
Creative sell the correct length spax shocks for that beam in different sizes Mine used to drive lovely .
You need extra springs as well, not just shocks - you have to get the nose of the bus to start rising with a shorter distance of travel - stiffer dampers are also needed to compensate for stronger springs. My bus was down 100mm on pure bangin' twist and cut then raised 25mm by coilovers. So now speed bumps at 20mph are not a problem. I think mine are Gaz coilovers, I didnt choose them but the guy who fitted them used 4 on the back of his Type 3 drag racer...
that’s interesting thanks, I noticed on the gaz website they list the b12s with 100lb springs for a t2
i guess if you just want to tickle the suspension then 100lbs would be fine. I wanted to raise mine up a bit (bad idea really i know but i did it 20yrs ago and didnt die then) I`ll get a new full height front beam at some point.
I drove with mine set to half way on the damper setting and then decided it was nicer riding on half way plus one click. Also based on the "critical damping" criterion where you jump off the bumper and the bus should move smartly to the new rest position without overshooting or bouncing around, and not move too slowly either.
Just fitted the same gaz coilovers on mine as per the above photo. Must be honest, not really sure how to set them up. Does winding the soring upwards just affect the ride height, or does it mate it stuffer too. Also, what effect does turning the damping screw have, will winding that up just make the small bumps in the road feel firmer?
Winding up the spring just raises the ride until you run out of travel on the shock. Adjusting the damper alters it from harsh compared with a stock bus to very harsh. But thats also the extra spring effect. You are trying to stop the wheels hitting the arches before the bus nose starts to rise using a shorter travel than stock. You are also trying to get the frontend to run level without bouncing around on under damped shocks like a nodding donkey, or running so harsh every small step in the road surface makes the contents of the parcel tray jump in the air. Adjust the coils to lift as much as you want, it has to be some distance. Then tune the damping by the bounce method. Drive it, get used to it then try a bit more. My extra click on the damping changed the rubbing of the wheels from "sometimes" to "only when you hit a massive tarmac ripple at 50" (happened the other day, its why stock seats have about 20cm of vertical bum travel before the wheel tub hits you coming up)
Have you any before and after shots?? Just asking because I could do to lift the front up on my bus an inch or two
Will take some when ive done I did get one side done today but then broke a finger on the garage door so decided it was best to stop for today
Jeeezzz... sounds like I'm not the only one that causes more grief when I start a job.. hope you get better soon
Hope your finger gets better soon - it will be (almost) worth it for the better driving experience.... I have come close with an unaccountable slamming my finger in the passenger door, or smashing my elbow on the B pillar after walking smartly round the bus forgetting I had left the handle in the jack, grabbed the drivers door handle that caused my elbow to swing down very painfully, which I suppose stopped me smashing my left hand into the tarmac.
before - 185 65r14 tyre after - 195 80R14 mud tyre - maxxis bighorn! - a MUCH bigger tyre 140lb spring and shock as listed above. i`ve since gone to a 180 spring to stiffen it up. cant remember the number of damping clicks. you can tell when its too fast as it rides like a pogo stick the threaded spring adjustment is just preload - so it affects the force needed to start the shock moving. it *may* affect ride height a bit but only if the spring is sufficiently stiff to actually lift the van before it compresses. if you wind on too much preload the ride will just be harsh and you risk the coil binding on itself. you are better off going for a heavier spring if you want more ride height (they are fairly cheap) or better still get the hight set using hte stock suspension and use the coilovers to improve the ride ( i always fine the stock ride a bit squishy!)
