How to lower a Bus and all lowering questions

[wrenchnride247]

[glifahrenheitcameron]

[cdennisg]

[kingodirtp3]

the type 1 and thing brakes wont stop you as well as the type 3 set up. if you don't want to use a wide 5 10mm spacer and long studs or the 4 to 5 lug adapter then you'll need to modify the stock rim to get the tire off the spring plate, or run tall skinny tires.
I had my 14x5 stock rims sent to a company called custom and commercial. they widened all 4 to 6 inches and took .5 inches out of the rear rims backspacing, making them 4 inch backspaced instead of the stock 4.5. they fit perfect and look great, though I shoulda had them take some backspacing out of the front too to clear the dog legs. $155 each wheel including white powder coating. running 185/55/14 fr 215/65/14 rr.
or just use a rim with less back spacing. beetle, or after market.
but with a stock-width beam up front the rim you choose will need to have 4.5inches of backspacing or more to minimize rubbing the doglegs.
the rear rims need around 4inches to be between the springplate and fender well.
if you get after market rims then you'll need a 4 inch narrowed beam.

[glifahrenheitcameron]

Sounds like i've gathered enough info. Thanks everyone

[brese73]

posted this a few months ago. I was wondering why my front tires were wearing out after installing flipped spindles. Initially I thought the number of shims and the toe-in were the culprits, but turns out I had the king pins installed backwards. This threw off the camber significantly because there is an offset on the spindles when mounting to the trailing arms. SOOO make sure you install your flipped spindles correctly with the upper offset facing the trailing arm. This also solve my swaying issue although I do have some new shocks on the way. Love the way my bus drives and handles now!

[mobidic01]

Hi! Does somebody know if there is any kit (Bus Boy or so?) to make an IRS conversion on a Split Bus without cutting in the frame? Do you have details about it like pictures or other advice? Thanks!

[DerrickfromNC1]

[demon1018]

I used the irs brackets to convert a swing axle bug. Just opened them up a little I didn't have to cut into the frame horns but I made my axles longer. I cut my stock spring plates to fit.

[DerrickfromNC1]

[demon1018]

Well bus torsion bars are bigger than bug ones. If your talking about converting a bug you could probably use them but you would also have to change the torsion bars to the longer ones. I cut my axles and welded in a piece then clam shelled a thick wall tube
around the cut. Been like this for 2 years. No problem at all but you have to make them strait! I have pics on my pc. I don't really have any good pics of this part in my build thread on here. There's some pretty good info on steering box scrapers website

[glifahrenheitcameron]

I came across a 64 beetle rear end....what all would need to be done to swap this into my split bus?

[cdennisg]

[64 ragtop volks]

If you want to run short axels,you will need to get custom rims made to get the backspacing correct or run ridiculously thick wheel spacers so the rims and tires clear your spring plates.

[glifahrenheitcameron]

I have found recommended tires sizes for stock 15s on a super slammed bus.....

But I am curious to know what tire size should be ran on a bus with stock 14s that is super low.

Anyone? The search bar is broken :/

[6sixTinBox]

People were running Toyo 195/45/14 but they aren't being manufactured anymore. I lucked out and found two from different sources in the U.S. and I was told they were the last ones. It took me about two weeks to search high and low to source them. I found some on Ebay by Falken but be prepared to pay an arm and a leg for them. They are pretty common in the U.K. since they run them on old school VW Golfs. Hope that helps. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=273571
_________________
1966 13 Window Deluxe

It is what it is

[kingodirtp3]

I found 155/65/14 from federal tires and a few other manufactures. they fit great on a stock 14x5 bus rim. im running 185/55/14 federals on 14x6 in bus rims which feel better, wider tire has more traction. if you go to the federal tire site they have a coupel more tires that are smaller in diameter.
here's a tire size calculator you can use to compare sizes, http://www.rimsntires.com/specspro.jsp
here's the federal site,
http://www.federaltire.com/en/products_detail.php?class=PCR&products_detail_sn=12
they have a 155/55/14 which is only 20.5 inches tall.
with my tires at 22 inches tall ill hit the steering box if im not careful.

[G-wood Todd]

I have a question about trailing arms.

I am working on a 64 and I had gradually aquired all the necessary bits to lower the bus including 64-67 flipped spindles. As I started into the front end (and confirming with the po) it appears that a 63 beam, 63 trailing arms, 63 spindles and 64 and later brakes were placed in my 64.

So the dilemma that I now face is that I have a set of 64-67 flipped spindles that will not fit on the earlier trailing arms.

My question is can the early trailing arms be machined and opened up to use the 64-67 linkpins to where I can use the 64-67 flipped spindles that I already have.

It seems like an easy solution would be to replace the early trailing arms with later ones but I am not finding any later ones available. Another solution would be to have the 63 spindles flipped but I would perfer to leave them stock if I wish to return it back to stock hight.

Sorry for the rambling but thats where I'm at and could use some ideas on where to go from here. Thanks in advance for the help.

[cdennisg]

[G-wood Todd]

Thanks for the response. It helps expand my narrow thinking. That thought came to mind as well if the early and late trailing arms have the same bushing/bearing diameter. I am using a new narrow beam so I will need something to fit into that setup rather than the 63 beam. It looks like later trailing arms are going to be the best solution. Thanks again.