Best way for lowering?

[ballbag]

I just bought a 71' deluxe microbus, it has fuch, a 1641 and is lowered 1 spline at the rear and has a red 9 design EZ rider kit on the front.

Is this a good/bad way to lower a bus, i've lowered loads of bugs and i found the best way was dropped spindles and a beam with puma adjusters.

Would dropped spindles be ok with the red9 kit, should i leave it as it is or should i look at other options as i do want it lower but still maintain a reasonable ride?

Here is the said bus.

 

[Joval]

Might be room to add spindles, if there is it'll drop another 2".

 

[ballbag]

Do you know how the red9 kit works?

I know it has something to do with coilovers.

 

[Joval]

It's me, Justin, you numpty. :mrgreen:

Yeah, leaves come out, solid bars with free turning ends go in and coilovers replace the shocks.
Bump stops come off the beam and new ones bolt through the holes.

Coilovers have 28 point adjustment, springs are either 2-4" drop or 4-5.5"

 

[Joval]

 

[ballbag]

It's me, Justin, you numpty. :mrgreen:

Yeah, leaves come out, solid bars with free turning ends go in and coilovers replace the shocks.
Bump stops come off the beam and new ones bolt through the holes.

Coilovers have 28 point adjustment, springs are either 2-4" drop or 4-5.5"

Alright dude

I'm not sure what coilovers it has, i'll have to get a lowering key and try it as he doesn't have it.

 

[Joval]

Take a look and see if there is any thread exposed below the spring retainer ring, if there is it'll go lower.

If not (4" kit?) Red9 will sell you spirings for a 5.5" drop

 

[ballbag]

Show us another pic of your bus dude, what kit do you have?

 

[Joval]

4" kit, not quite at it's lowest -

Take the back down a click and see how it looks

 

[ballbag]

That's exactly how low i want mine, it must be able to go lower then!
What tyres have you got?

 

[maddog]

That's exactly how low i want mine, it must be able to go lower then!
What tyres have you got?

You know you're gonna have to get a bigger motor now! :wink:

 

[Joval]

165/65 and 205/70

don't know what would go on 14" rims...

 

[rustydiver]

After seeing all of the lowerd vans at Vanfest now giving it some thought :? My bus is stock height and has stock wheels and tyres.

Dont want to salm but want a comfy useable height. How low could i go. Front and rear.

Was looking at the red desin ez kits. Are there any other options.

Remember you are talking to a real numpty nutts. Keep it simple :wink:

 

[ballbag]

That's exactly how low i want mine, it must be able to go lower then!
What tyres have you got?

This low

 

[Joval]

That looks like 2 splines and about 6" up front, low profile tyres give it a little extra.

 

[Pete B]

Agree with you there chap, looks about the height of mine, and you can't go lower without hacking the chassis rails about. Hats off to those who have the balls! Front tyres still catch inner arch over biggish bumps as it is!

 

[cyberdyne systems]

I like the simplicity of the red9 coil over front end, beam stays in place and just fit parts.

But I still find it hard to accept the lower shock mount on the trailing arms is up to the job of carrying the whole weight of the front end. It seems those of you who have fitted this system don't have any issue's, and yet my mind says it shouldn't be done - shame as its probably the easiest to fit up.

Gareth

 

[faux]

I like the simplicity of the red9 coil over front end, beam stays in place and just fit parts.

But I still find it hard to accept the lower shock mount on the trailing arms is up to the job of carrying the whole weight of the front end. It seems those of you who have fitted this system don't have any issue's, and yet my mind says it shouldn't be done - shame as its probably the easiest to fit up.

Gareth

I thought that but I feel they have done a lot of work on them and now fit a bump stop which should save the full drop should anything fail.

Your standard lowered set up doesn't have this fail safe as you have to get rid of the standard bump stops....so I wonder which is safest now?

I have said it before but I think the coil over set up is a great idea, I'm sure there is the market for a hybrid version which combines the Creative Weedeater and the red 9 coil overs and bumpstops...... :roll:

 

[Joval]

AFAIK Red9 have sold hundreds of kits, if any of them are driven as hard as mine there's nothing to worry about.

 

[cyberdyne systems]

I like the simplicity of the red9 coil over front end, beam stays in place and just fit parts.

But I still find it hard to accept the lower shock mount on the trailing arms is up to the job of carrying the whole weight of the front end. It seems those of you who have fitted this system don't have any issue's, and yet my mind says it shouldn't be done - shame as its probably the easiest to fit up.

Gareth

I thought that but I feel they have done a lot of work on them and now fit a bump stop which should save the full drop should anything fail.

Your standard lowered set up doesn't have this fail safe as you have to get rid of the standard bump stops....so I wonder which is safest now?

I have said it before but I think the coil over set up is a great idea, I'm sure there is the market for a hybrid version which combines the Creative Weedeater and the red 9 coil overs and bumpstops...... :roll:

Thanks for the oppinion faux,

I agree a combined beam version would be good, but then the whole point of what I like about the red9 is fitting it fairly quickly leaving the beam in situ.

Another thing dont people use rear beetle shocks to mount on a lowered front(conventional style) of a bus, so does that mean the lower shock mount on a bus trailing arm is the same thickness as the 17mm headed bolt like on the the rear of the Beetle, there by being quite a bit more substantial compared to the one's found on a beetle's trailing arm?

So this set up can get you more than low enough in my oppinion, but how much travel would be left in the ball joints? I like the height of Joval's 71 for instance, and he's saying thats around 4", is the ride still choppy, like a beam with adjusters?

Say you want to get a narrowed beam so you can fit lowered spindles, can the red9 be narrowed to suit?

I realise there may not be answers to all this but i'd be interested in people's oppinions

Cheers
Gareth