TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Aug 18, 2015 8:06 pm

i put carat spring on lucy, she feels so good on the freeway
i replaced the whole front end, all the bushings etc, after the carat springs she felt better

my last vanagon in the UK i had 3" lower springs, again it rode really well

Wed Aug 19, 2015 8:54 am

I grabbed a set of carat/wolfsburg springs. Too many mixed opinons on Weitecs. My 83.5 either has a set of lifts or the early factory springs are just that tall.

16 7/8" center to fender lip on all 4 corners. The seller said he was at 15 3/8" in a tintop. With a loaded westy I should sit around 15 so close to a 2" drop is exactly what I need. Still want some ground clearance as I am planning a subie swap or at least a 10cent exhaust. This 1.9 doesn't leak/burn anything so I am hanging onto it for a while!

Wed Aug 19, 2015 5:34 pm

I posted this on this thread:
30 Years Syncro 2015 14.08-16.08.2015 - Berlin
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7792094#7792094

Anyone has any info on that vanagon?

pedrokrusher wrote: hans j wrote: Sooooo many awesome T3s! Fun show, wish I had been able to stay longer. Lots of photos here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Berliner-VWBus-Festival/212266755533964?fref=ts Honestly I hardly took any because I wouldn't know how to capture it. Everything there was something we didn't get here, and I just tried to process it all without trying to take photos. Maybe in another 5 years I get to take another trip like this one :wink:

Thanks for the link Hans J.

Great photos! I copied these two pictures and saved it on thesamba's server so we can see them when the link goes bad or something.
I just love this "fast" vanagon! It must be very stable on the highway...
I just came back from a trip to Portugal visiting my parents, and everyone drives 140 to 160 km/h on the highway. The speed limit is 120.
I believe this vanagon is suited for that...
Anybody has any info on this setup? I'll post it on the lowered vanagon thread.

Fri Oct 09, 2015 6:30 pm

So I thought I would give my experience on my newly lowered van. First I have an 86 Wolfsburg, so full poptop no kitchen and it was riding on original springs and shocks with a bit of the Westy lean probably due to the rear cabinet and the extra support for the table. The suspension was so soft I did not need to slow for speed bumps but it always felt like it was going to tip when I went around a corner. I had upgraded the steering box bushings with some great ones from T3 so my handling had improved on the highway (great upgrade highly recommend it) but it still didn’t feel comfortable on the mountain switchbacks.
Decided to go with Weitec springs and Blistien shocks from Vancafe and am very happy with the improvement. Mountain driving is a joy you can really throw the beast around on the curves and it feels solid and secure. On our first trip we drove from Vancouver to Edmonton and back and when we left there was a major rain and wind storm going on. Yogi was rock steady with the cross winds and I only had to drop to the posted limits on the corners. It gives a smooth ride on the well maintained roads and felt it was no worse on the rougher sections than the original bouncy we were getting from the old soft suspension. As the suspension settled in it only got better.
Love the new stance the wheels now fill the openings (still running on original Vanco 14”) it is so much easier to get in and out (since I’m not getting any younger), can drive into a parkade without the fear of scraping my roof and into my garage as well. No more of that tipping feeling on freeway off ramps is also a huge relief.
The only complaint I have is that I really need to slow down for speed bumps because they are not as soft as the old suspension and really rough/gravel roads are very bouncy. That said we rarely go off road and even with the chop it still feels like it’s under better control. I can only hope it will get better when we upgrade the tires to a bigger rim
I know most people are going higher but I love my new lower van, and its sportier ride.

Fri Oct 09, 2015 7:25 pm

This one belongs to a local guy. I think he said it has Weitec springs and Konis. CLK wheels. Sorry for the lousy pic, but I was just getting on the highway when I spotted him.

Fri Jul 29, 2016 7:10 pm

G'day

new here and am playing with my lowered T3 / Vanagon / Caravelle C

I originally had heat treated springs and stock shocks and it rode "SOFT"

I put short Bilsteins all round and and it improved the ride remarkably. The original shocks were obviously shot.

That said I also had purchased H&R Springs (2991 HA)

The front went in fine but the rears concern me.

It i put the rears in with no shock it sits nice and lines up perfectly with my short shock.

But the spring looks too compressed?

I will try and get a better picture - but is anyone else running H&R's?

Fri Jul 29, 2016 7:32 pm

bizarre wrote: G'day

Welcome to the Samba!

The H&R springs are supposed to be that way. The coils that are touching are considered "dead" coils and simply act as a spacer. The open coils are the "active" coils and that's where your travel comes from. The rear travel is pretty limited when the van is that low so you don't need all that many active coils to provide full wheel travel.

Fri Jul 29, 2016 10:31 pm

OK - thanks for confirming that

Just took it for a blast and VERY happy with it.

For those that are interested the Bilsteins are standard rear beetle shocks on the back, ground down a bit on the bottom eyelet and Nissan Nivara on the front with a bushing machined up to take a bolt that fits the shock

Bit of work, but as said, VERY happy

Sat Jun 29, 2019 4:35 pm

Lowered 1987 on red konis and yellow weitecs. 205/55/16 in front 225/55/16 at back on 1999 slk wheels. Spacers from Chris at T3.

Sun Jun 30, 2019 9:06 am

That looks great, Ghiafreek! Are the wheels staggered width, too?

Sun Jun 30, 2019 9:22 am

Hey thanks. No,..wheels are all 16 x7 ET37. Great fit with lots of room.

Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:18 pm

Ghiafreek, can you comment on ride quality after making this change?

I've read comments from others of what they considered excessive harshness from some lowering springs.

I personally love the look and I know that in many ways the van would have to handle better being lower to the ground.

Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:34 pm

ghiafreek wrote: Lowered 1987 on red konis and yellow weitecs. 205/55/16 in front 225/55/16 at back on 1999 slk wheels. Spacers from Chris at T3.

nice setup. i'm on OG alloys but living in Philly i'm thinking a bit of stance but still camping friendly. the merc wheels look great and i see these under my bus.

Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:51 pm

levi wrote: Ghiafreek, can you comment on ride quality after making this change?

I've read comments from others of what they considered excessive harshness from some lowering springs.

I personally love the look and I know that in many ways the van would have to handle better being lower to the ground.

Sure. Actually, it takes turns better and feels stable at increased speed during turns. I don't feel the ride as harsh or clunky. Steering stays true when going over bumps at any speed. I love the ride. Would definitely recommend this set up.

Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:54 pm

dabaron wrote: ghiafreek wrote: Lowered 1987 on red konis and yellow weitecs. 205/55/16 in front 225/55/16 at back on 1999 slk wheels. Spacers from Chris at T3.

nice setup. i'm on OG alloys but living in Philly i'm thinking a bit of stance but still camping friendly. the merc wheels look great and i see these under my bus.
Definitely just low enough to have decent stance but would manage camping terrain easily I feel.

Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:28 am

ghiafreek wrote:
Definitely just low enough to have decent stance but would manage camping terrain easily I feel.
Inquiring minds need to know: what is the suspension height as measured from the fender lip to the centre of the hub?
Thanks!

Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:29 am

Jake de Villiers wrote: ghiafreek wrote:
Definitely just low enough to have decent stance but would manage camping terrain easily I feel.
Inquiring minds need to know: what is the suspension height as measured from the fender lip to the centre of the hub?
Thanks!

Front 14 3/8"
Rear 15 1/8"

Tue Jul 02, 2019 11:01 am

Hi Pedro

This might help: https://youtu.be/OyuUt1PKYX8

pedrokrusher wrote: I posted this on this thread:
30 Years Syncro 2015 14.08-16.08.2015 - Berlin
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7792094#7792094

Anyone has any info on that vanagon?

pedrokrusher wrote: hans j wrote: Sooooo many awesome T3s! Fun show, wish I had been able to stay longer. Lots of photos here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Berliner-VWBus-Festival/212266755533964?fref=ts Honestly I hardly took any because I wouldn't know how to capture it. Everything there was something we didn't get here, and I just tried to process it all without trying to take photos. Maybe in another 5 years I get to take another trip like this one :wink:

Thanks for the link Hans J.

Great photos! I copied these two pictures and saved it on thesamba's server so we can see them when the link goes bad or something.
I just love this "fast" vanagon! It must be very stable on the highway...
I just came back from a trip to Portugal visiting my parents, and everyone drives 140 to 160 km/h on the highway. The speed limit is 120.
I believe this vanagon is suited for that...
Anybody has any info on this setup? I'll post it on the lowered vanagon thread.

Thu Jul 04, 2019 5:31 pm

Thanks Vic!!!
Love the video!
I've seen it before, and still love it today.
Pedro

vik wrote: Hi Pedro

This might help: https://youtu.be/OyuUt1PKYX8

pedrokrusher wrote: I posted this on this thread:
30 Years Syncro 2015 14.08-16.08.2015 - Berlin
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7792094#7792094

Anyone has any info on that vanagon?

pedrokrusher wrote: hans j wrote: Sooooo many awesome T3s! Fun show, wish I had been able to stay longer. Lots of photos here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Berliner-VWBus-Festival/212266755533964?fref=ts Honestly I hardly took any because I wouldn't know how to capture it. Everything there was something we didn't get here, and I just tried to process it all without trying to take photos. Maybe in another 5 years I get to take another trip like this one :wink:

Thanks for the link Hans J.

Great photos! I copied these two pictures and saved it on thesamba's server so we can see them when the link goes bad or something.
I just love this "fast" vanagon! It must be very stable on the highway...
I just came back from a trip to Portugal visiting my parents, and everyone drives 140 to 160 km/h on the highway. The speed limit is 120.
I believe this vanagon is suited for that...
Anybody has any info on this setup? I'll post it on the lowered vanagon thread.

Wed May 27, 2020 12:43 am

campism wrote: This one belongs to a local guy. I think he said it has Weitec springs and Konis. CLK wheels. Sorry for the lousy pic, but I was just getting on the highway when I spotted him.

That's pretty sweet. I will be working on a 85 tintop that I want to lower. It looks like I can get the lowering spring kit thru Busdepot, but I'm unsure on the Koni shocks.

Are these the correct ones to get with lowering springs?

https://www.koni-na.com/en-US/NorthAmerica/Product...5&mt=1

Busdepot Weitec spring kit

https://www.koni-na.com/en-US/NorthAmerica/Product...5&mt=1

Also, has anyone rolled their fenders out for clearance (rear)? I'm going to try to fit 15x9's in the rear & 15x8's up front.

Here's an eastwood fender roller

https://www.eastwood.com/autobody/fender-roller.ht...gL9AfD_BwE

Thanks