Air shocks for a 1960 23 window

[Vargus]

I need to be able to raise and lower my bus. The spindles have been flipped. Has anyone used Gabriel air shocks on the front and back to raise or lower a bus.
Thanks Dan

[thom]

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=66927
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1956 Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof
1957 23-Window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Westfalia single cab
1963 Unimog 404
1965 E-Type

[EmpiGT]

I'm not sure the thread Thom posted will help you much on the subject. I would only use air shocks to temporarily raise a bus. If your bus is lowered with a straight axle, the shocks will fight against the torsion of the springs front and rear (depending on how high), so the ride will be really rough. And if running no gear reduction boxes, raising it too much in the rear, your camber will be very bad and dangerous.
But if you keep the raise sensible and use it to just raise for clearance on occasion you should be fine.

[don.ville]

I have them on on the front and rear of my bus.

I have never inflated the fronts, didn't even add the air lines, because l am very satisfied with the current ride height.


FRONT: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4527469#4527469

REAR: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4498143#4498143
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[flemcadiddlehopper]

I think you need to explain for what purpose do you need to temporarily raise the bus.
Air shocks will raise it a certain amount as already explained, however you need access to air pressure. So, doing this on the daily ( like a crappy driveway ) means you need an air compressor and tank in the bus. Also, air shocks have small air lines, unlike true air ride, and the lift will be slow.
Perhaps in the rear you could take out the bump stop and install Firestone air assist springs. They are similar to the ones used on pick-ups that carry campers.

Gordo.
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[Erik G]

If you do, the front shocks have to be mounted upside down, they rub otherwise.

they will all have to be drilled and tapped for larger lines. out of the box they are not strong enough to lift. Also agree with what empigt said, had a friend that bought a bus with them on, pretty useless to be honest. he ditched all of it

I tried with the rear of a bug a long time ago, doesn't work...
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[Vargus]

I want to be able to raise the bus about one to two inches. I am not happy with the fact that the front tires are rubbing when turning or when I have four people in the bus. I will want to carry 8 people at certain times. Currently there is no way the bus will take the weight and not rub.
Thanks

[Vargus]

I also have read that Gabriels will fit without a modification.

[djfordmanjack]

remember they put additional strain on parts that were not intended to carry the load, such as mounting studs on trailing arms, upper frt axle threads aso.
I used gas shocks in the frt of an oval beetle and they helped raise it about 3/4"along with a little stiffer ride.
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[Erik G]

your bus isn't so low that it cant carry people, your front tires are pretty big for a lowered bus though

what beam? just spindle flip? what size tires do you have? front and rear. where is the rub, just the front? you may be able to just get by with smaller front tires
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[don.ville]

Now you know why people go with a narrower beam.
If you look above the front tire you will see The fender has more vertical room for travel the closer the front tires are to the center.
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67 Standard 11 window How I Keep My Bus Alive
04 Jetta TDI Page (SOLD)
01 Mexican Beetle Hello Kitty Rescue (SOLD)
29 Ford Model A Rat Rod (SOLD)
2015 Audi A8L TDI Quattro

[Vargus]

The front and rear tires are 195s. Stock front beam with only flipped spindles.

[Vargus]

The tires rub when four or more people are in the bus and when the bus is turning.