TheSamba.com :: View topic - How to lower a Bus and all lowering questions

Sun Apr 18, 2004 7:55 pm

I've done searches and yeah I'm a Trainee but I can't seem to find out how to tell if my Type 1 tranny is a 67-68 like Bus-Boys says you need for the straight axle kit.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jeff

Fri Apr 30, 2004 6:50 pm

if I remember right the measurement between the backing plate and the spring plate, or where it mounts, should be about 4.5" for a long axle type 1 tranny-

Sat May 01, 2004 10:56 am

Hey just read about pulling leaves in earlier post....Just had to add my 2 cents. I have a 61 sc thats ridin on 6 leaves 3 in each tube, but that makes it ride 2.5 inches higher than when I got it and I think it rides rather nicely. I have a straight axle kit in the rear as well. I know some of you guys like me are too poor right now to but expensive front end kits. As far as I'm concerned the 3 leaves fit tight and all the grub screws hold them in just fine...So if you aint got much cash go for it. BTW my ride height measured to the top of the dog leg is at 24" about 2.5 higher than when its bottomed if you had no leaves.

Mon May 17, 2004 5:25 am

Here is a how to for narrowing, installing adjusters and relocating the shock mounts on the trailing arms.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=71084&highlight=tutorial

Wed May 26, 2004 8:44 am

What about installing 68-69 Trailing arms, spring plates, hubs etc? Thats what I'm doing. If you don't shorten the ams, you have to remove the frame horns to get them to fit. Otherwise they are exactly in the wrong place. The line for the IRS brackets falls directly on the frame horns. Everthing else bolts up. I will run it "2 clicks" lower.

Sun Jun 13, 2004 7:14 am

alright guys. plenty of info on lowering but how about baggin??? i mean whats the best for the rear and who makes the best air ride kit??? is airkewld any good??? if anyone could post some pics or ad a link or somethin i would be happy. thanx

Mon Jun 14, 2004 2:45 am

Also- how about bagging the rear after it's been converted to IRS?

Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:11 pm

I will post some pics on the samba when I get done with one.

We have some new info on our DUB RODZ
http://www.meta-forge.com/airkewld/parts/products.php?id=35
Our Website has had a few changes as well!
www.airkewld.com

Sat Jul 03, 2004 9:58 pm

YEAH, I JUST GOT MY 1ST PRE 67 (66 DELUX) AND I HAVE A GOOD IDEA WHAT I'M DOIN AS FAR AS SUSPENIONS (WITH CIVICS & MK3 JETTAS AND GTI'S). THESE VANS ARE ALIL DIFFERENT, ITS A VERY GOOD THING, AND INFO FROM YA'LL HERE AT THE SAMBA... I JUST CAN GO WRONG.
THANKS.

Tue Jul 20, 2004 5:01 pm

For the baggin' folk, I have been toward to steer toward http://www.road-relics.com The guy with the blue panel is said to be one of the best to bag buses.

Tue Jul 27, 2004 4:09 am

For the rear I used a 1303 rear suspention,and for the front the new WEEDEATER front axle from Creative-Engineering in the UK.

http://www.creative-engineering.com/cgi-bin/shop/web_store.cgi?page=beams.html&cart_id=2468810_25720

Works with either split,or bay window parts.
I used the bay window parts,so that I could use Porsche disc's and brakes !!
http://www.volksforum.com/gallery/wm.php?pid=5421&mode=fullsize

Thu Jul 29, 2004 8:45 pm

All this talk about lowering busses and the ride quality. If you have the money there is no way to beat air ride. I have run adjustable beams, drop spindles, and both at the same time. I never knew what I was missing till I got the air bags done. My bus now rides better then my 2002 Chevy s-10...its amazing. Here is a link to a pic... http://www.meta-forge.com/airkewld/project/displayimage.php?album=4&pid=92

Sat Jul 31, 2004 12:38 pm

I already have dropped spindles with 944 brakes, but I'm thinking of going air bags also. That way I can raise it up high enough to clear bad speed bumps or going offroad camping. Everything I have read states that its the best in a lot of ways. Even new cars are using computer controlled air ride
suspensions.

A lot of information can be found at the follow links...
http://www.airride.com/faq.asp
http://www.airliftcompany.com/easystreet/ezindexframe.htm
http://www.contitech-usa.com/products/airspringsOE.html

I'm going to be doing it to the back so I can keep my muffler getting ripped off and because I intend to tow with my Bus (can be used for more load capacity).

Does anyone have any good pics of a front beam setup? I have searched the archives and found some pics from Nate, but few others. What about any rear end bag pics?? I'm trying to get some more ideas.

Thanks,
-Bobby

Thu Aug 05, 2004 6:01 pm

thats what im talkin about fill it with stuff and see what happends. :P

Sat Aug 07, 2004 1:40 pm

All this stuff sounds slick, but what about lowering just a small amount? Say 1 to 1.5". Is making a spring plate adjustment OK for this small amount?

I'm guessing about 3 inner splines and about 3 outer splines?

Sun Aug 15, 2004 12:53 am

Just let some air out of the tires. :o

Sun Aug 15, 2004 8:07 pm

It won't be adjustable but to lower the front of a bug and premusably a bus (on the cheap). Simply cut the center of the upper tube with a pipe cutter and then use a pipe wrench to rotate it downward. Re-weld the tube in place and then do the same for the bottom tube. It will not ride as nice as a dropped spindle, but will be the same as an adjustable beams' ride without being able to adjust it.

Sun Aug 15, 2004 11:09 pm

pizzaguywithasinglecab wrote: It won't be adjustable but to lower the front of a bug and premusably a bus (on the cheap). Simply cut the center of the upper tube with a pipe cutter and then use a pipe wrench to rotate it downward. Re-weld the tube in place and then do the same for the bottom tube. It will not ride as nice as a dropped spindle, but will be the same as an adjustable beams' ride without being able to adjust it.

Wouldn't rotating it downward raise the bus instead of lower it???

And this does work. It rides like crap, though...

Mon Aug 16, 2004 2:10 pm

Andrew wrote: pizzaguywithasinglecab wrote: It won't be adjustable but to lower the front of a bug and premusably a bus (on the cheap). Simply cut the center of the upper tube with a pipe cutter and then use a pipe wrench to rotate it downward. Re-weld the tube in place and then do the same for the bottom tube. It will not ride as nice as a dropped spindle, but will be the same as an adjustable beams' ride without being able to adjust it.

Wouldn't rotating it downward raise the bus instead of lower it???

And this does work. It rides like crap, though...

damn. now I know how to raise the front. I'm going for at least 2 ft of ground clearance at the steering box.

Wed Aug 18, 2004 6:35 pm

i think thats lowering and narrowing pretty much covered then, but what about, tubbing, moving the steering box up so it dont bash on the floor,(irrispective of weather you agree it should be done or not- people are still gunna want to know what it means!!) and what about shock choice??? we actually have bumps in our roads over here, so shock choice is very important :lol: