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jacwri
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2017
Posts: 7
Location: Gwinnett, Georgia
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 Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 8:11 am Post subject: Lifting My Bus Questions: CV Angle, Coilovers, and much more! |
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So, I've got a saggy ass 79, common problem right?
I also just want to lift it in general as I do a lot of sketchy roads, the farther I get my crankcase from slamming into a rock the better.
I know my stock CVs can only handle so much angle, but how many inches of lift does that correspond to roughly? I'd like to lift the rear 3", would that necessitate new CVs that can handle more angle? Im running the stock 14" wheels and General Grabbers.
Considering indexing my torsion bar for the lift, vs coilovers in the rear. The torsion bar is free, but I'm afraid 3" will put too much stress on the old stock bars. Coilovers cost more but will be very easy to put in. (My body is solid! I'm really not a believer in the shock mount failure)
Thoughts??
Thanks Yall. |
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airschooled
Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012
Posts: 12722
Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 9:40 am Post subject: Re: Lifting My Bus Questions: CV Angle, Coilovers, and much more! |
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| jacwri wrote: |
| So, I've got a saggy ass 79, common problem right? |
No, most of us have ass-draggin '68-'78 buses, as not as many '79's were made. 
| Quote: |
| I know my stock CVs can only handle so much angle, but how many inches of lift does that correspond to roughly? I'd like to lift the rear 3", would that necessitate new CVs that can handle more angle? Im running the stock 14" wheels and General Grabbers. |
I wish there was a formula, but the increasing angle of the dangle will accelerate wear on a scale that we just don't have precisely researched. We (the collective hive mind here) only know that CVs will prematurely fail from extreme hyperextension; that's about it. Want to be a guinea pig?
| Quote: |
| Considering indexing my torsion bar for the lift, vs coilovers in the rear. The torsion bar is free, but I'm afraid 3" will put too much stress on the old stock bars. Coilovers cost more but will be very easy to put in. (My body is solid! I'm really not a believer in the shock mount failure) |
The "old stock bars" are currently keeping the bus off the suspension stops, yes? How would keeping it up a few inches increase the stress on the bars? It's not like the bus gets heavier the higher off the ground it gets… It's the same mass and spring tension, just assembled in a different spot.
The shock mount issue is VERY real. Luckily, the early bay bus repair can be done in a day. The late bays aren't so lucky.
Good luck,
Robbie
(This was on a desert bus with zero rust. Even the battery tray on this bus is 100% original and accounted for.)
(This photo from pjalau, who I THINK has a lifted bus.)
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aeromech
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Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16970
Location: San Diego, California
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: Lifting My Bus Questions: CV Angle, Coilovers, and much more! |
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I think your spring plates will hit the stops before you exceed any CV angle. Buggy guys use Posche 930 CV's for extreme angles.
I've used coil overs years ago without any problems and at times I had my bus heavily loaded down with scuba tanks, inflatable boats, gas cans, etc. I'd try them if I was you.
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TomWesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2007
Posts: 3482
Location: Wyoming,USA
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: Lifting My Bus Questions: CV Angle, Coilovers, and much more! |
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I’ve been running coil overs but am thinking of switching to air shocks this Spring. Been on coil overs for about 15 years running pretty heavy loads but not much off road driving.
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richparker
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011
Posts: 6982
Location: Durango, CO
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: Lifting My Bus Questions: CV Angle, Coilovers, and much more! |
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I lifted the rear of my bus pretty high with a torsion adjustment, I think. I actually did the job twice. The first time I set the the angle to 28*, it was super high but topped out on the stops on every bump. The second time I set the angle to 25.5*, which had been great for me. It doesn’t top out on the stop and I have plenty of clearance. To clarify the angle, you have to unweight the spring plates to measure. I used an angle finder from HD that has a magnet on the bottom. I live in SW Colorado and do a lot of dirt/off road driving and think the clearance is great. The have a deep sump and have yet hit it on anything. Currently the bottom of my exhaust sits 12” off the ground and I’ve yet to hit that also. Good luck.
Here’s an example of a road I had no issues on, we were headed to a sweet campsite over looking a huge valley.
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Tram
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Joined: May 02, 2003
Posts: 22727
Location: Still Feelin' the Bern- Once you've felt it you can't un- feel it.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: Lifting My Bus Questions: CV Angle, Coilovers, and much more! |
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| TomWesty wrote: |
| I’ve been running coil overs but am thinking of switching to air shocks this Spring. Been on coil overs for about 15 years running pretty heavy loads but not much off road driving. |
VW actually offered optional coilovers for severe service. Air shocks tend to break shock mounts. I've seen it happen. On a really good bump or pothole something's gotta give, and coilovers are better at absorbing shock than air shocks. If you really want air an air spring is better.
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Brian
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Joined: May 28, 2012
Posts: 8340
Location: Oceanside
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| Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 2:02 am Post subject: Re: Lifting My Bus Questions: CV Angle, Coilovers, and much more! |
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The coilover shocks are pretty shitty. Never went with them myself. I got some KYB Gas-A-Just up front and some KYB GR2 in th back. The best way you can do a lift is get some Wagen West lift spindles up front then adjust your rear to match the front. I got away with stock shocks in the rear, but always measure before you buy.
The stock CVs will take a lot of beating, but you need to measure 3 times before you make the final call. On my first bug I got, I managed to blow a few CVs 3 or 4 times because I over extended them on turns.
@robbie, the picture above from Rich looks like the road we took up to that campground for Halloween that one time. Where my aftermarket brakes fell out and you stock bus did fine
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Tram
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Joined: May 02, 2003
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| Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 2:33 am Post subject: Re: Lifting My Bus Questions: CV Angle, Coilovers, and much more! |
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| Brian wrote: |
The coilover shocks are pretty shitty. Never went with them myself. I got some KYB Gas-A-Just up front and some KYB GR2 in th back. The best way you can do a lift is get some Wagen West lift spindles up front then adjust your rear to match the front. I got away with stock shocks in the rear, but always measure before you buy.
The stock CVs will take a lot of beating, but you need to measure 3 times before you make the final call. On my first bug I got, I managed to blow a few CVs 3 or 4 times because I over extended them on turns.
@robbie, the picture above from Rich looks like the road we took up to that campground for Halloween that one time. Where my aftermarket brakes fell out and you stock bus did fine |
I agree with your assessment of modern coilovers in general but the OEM VW option was a different animal- they were Bilstein if I recall, and really added stability. They were absolutely NOT recommended to cure a case of the "squats". They were a supplement, not a band aid.
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Brian
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Joined: May 28, 2012
Posts: 8340
Location: Oceanside
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| Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 2:54 am Post subject: Re: Lifting My Bus Questions: CV Angle, Coilovers, and much more! |
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I dig it man.
Usually when people say they want some coil overs they're smashing their nose in an EMPI catalog.
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sethpat
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2017
Posts: 134
Location: Orlando
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| Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 8:59 am Post subject: Re: Lifting My Bus Questions: CV Angle, Coilovers, and much more! |
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How about an adjustable front beam and rear lift plates?
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