Split Window bus Handling

[Gusthewonderslug]

Hi all in the early stages of planing the resto on the Nullabor bus,s
What is the best way to get the swing axle set up to handle safely?
Can someone give me a potted synopsis of z bars, castor correctors, sway bars, lowering and drop spindles v upgrading to irs.
Gus

[BusJunky]

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=66927
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[Clara]

sway bars improve cornering
some sway bar threads:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search..._chars=200

camber compensator:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search..._chars=200

There are pics of the camber compensator on my 61 in this thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=403026&highlight=camber+comp%2A

When I first was looking at getting a VW bus, people told me not to get a swing axle one as they are unsafe. I got a bay. It promptly had engine failure.
Personally I like the handling of the split bus better than the Bay. The bay felt awkward and heavier and not as nimble around the turns. I was living on a narrow twisty mountain road at the time. The 2liter bay was better for 70 mph on a straight interstate. I liked the feel of the old bus, like a really old truck.
Not that either is a sports car, just a comparison.

I find the stock split bus suspension fine. It's important to make sure your steering is in order, though. Often an old bus has delayed maintenance and worn parts.

I have not heard of a nullabor bus. pics? What sort of driving style are you looking for?
Some people would say a split bus is unsafe at any speed no matter what running gear you use.

[mandraks]

i remember this one http://www.brianwhite.com.au/tag/nullarbor/

my personal feeling is that a well maintained stock height RGB bus will handle great with good wheels and tires, and really good shocks. My personal preference: red konis up front, bilstein gas out back. Don't put car tires on a bus... especially not a fully loaded camper. never used a camber compensator, and i have driven buses without swaybars and without the steering shock. good shocks and tires is where it is at
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regards

Uli

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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel

[Clara]

Great link! Looks like a fun journey!
I don't see any need for anything special, just for a well maintained vehicle for a long road trip.
And while the camper compensator & sway bar did improve cornering, it is not necessary.
Pre- steering shock buses (or buses with a bad steering shock) can get the shimmy wobble when one tire hits a bump, having a good steering shock is a good idea.

I like the shocks & tires comment too.

[64 ragtop volks]

Stiffer side wall tires help alot i believe they are called "LT" for light truck?

[Gusthewonderslug]

Clara
Check out the pics Nullabor Splits
Gus

[Clara]

are these the ones?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...t_dir=DESC

[Eric&Barb]

[67dubcab]

A Porsche does handle nice but can't work for a living every day carrying tools, materials, and doing dump runs.
I may have taken the Porsche performance modified bit to the extreme but there is lots of mods in between.
My experience is that the swing axles should go if you are looking for more performance than stock.
Assuming that means a more powerful engine then the reduction boxes are not needed, so you are changing out the trans, might as well go I.R.S.
No comparison in handling to a swing axle regardless of running height.
I also ran for years as a daily driver a 2110 with swing/reduction boxes and thousands of miles with a I.R.S and stock 1600 single port, would prefer the latter ten fold.
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3...highlight=

[KombiMadness]

Crossing the Nullabor doesn't need any special handling compensation for a split because the road is arrow straight and dead flat for hundreds and hundreds of miles...... No handling needed, just prevention from falling asleep.

Seriously though, a stock split with everything in good order suspension, steering and tyres wise will handle fine IF it's driven sensibly. If you don't want to drive your split sensibly then lower it, IRS or SA it and fit a front disc brake conversion to it.
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My brother & I on the roof of Dad's Splitty circa 1967 - I'm the half pint with the skinny legs!

[PapaG1954]

Anybody have any good or bad experiences putting sway bars on their split bus?
And what are the best split bus shocks?
Here is an article that's has pros and cons but i'd like to hear from some of you guys..

http://www.ratwell.com/technical/SwayBars.html

[EverettB]

I installed a '67 Bus front sway bar on my '63.
I can tell the difference.

This thread has some info
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=303031

For shocks my Double Cab has "stock" oil shocks from Wolfsburg West.
They seem fine to me but I am sure there are better ones out there.
For instance, I think Konis are better.
Some people prefer Bilsteins.
You can see these were both mentioned above.
A thread with some Koni info
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=559398

The best handling improvement I have felt is with new, quality, tires.
Driving on worn out or old tires = you are all over the road.
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