Dropped Spindles & 17 inch wheels question

[drindiana]

Have been searching around the forum for an answer on this and couldn't find it and also asked Transporterhaus and they suggested here too.
I have a 71 bay with adjustable beam which was lowered and set prior to me buying it. I added 17x7 wheels with 215/50 tyres without any rubbing (same height as 14x5 185/75 tyre) but the ride is brutal. We want to keep a lowered stance but need to improve the ride.
Am tossing up dropped spindles and the Red9 setup. Red9 looks fantastic but the cost to get it in Australia has me baulking.
That said is there anyone out there running the dropped spindles and have been able to manage a similar wheel tyre combo setup? Transporterhaus mentioned that new coilover shocks will probably be necessary.
Anyway knowing whatever I am planning has been done someone here before, I am keen to learn from any wins or losses before I choose what to do next.
cheers Shaun

 

[john the horse]

we ran 17s on dropped spindles for a while mate was fine even with 35 profiles on the front, well fine for lowered bus, be careful esp on the rear with non load rated rubber band tyres, we had one blow ut and another with 180degree egg on the inner wall, have since gone back to 15s as IMO prefer the look, cheaper on tyres and get a bit lower too.

so yes is the answer worked fine for us for a while

jth

ps are yu running a narrowed beam, otherwise you might get a bit of rubbin if you wanna go low

 

[drindiana]

Thanks for the response. The tyres are 95 load rating so should be good there. No narrowed beam :?
I guess the rubbing is a major part of my concern. We do not get rubbing now with the adjustable beam but if we go back to the stock beam setting and rely on the dropped spindles for the drop I am concerned about the rubbing issue for sure.
Did you do anything different with the shocks?

 

[Tofufi]

Thanks for the response. The tyres are 95 load rating so should be good there. No narrowed beam :?
I guess the rubbing is a major part of my concern. We do not get rubbing now with the adjustable beam but if we go back to the stock beam setting and rely on the dropped spindles for the drop I am concerned about the rubbing issue for sure.
Did you do anything different with the shocks?

Go careful when improving the ride quality too much...

When I fitted my (Wagenswest) dropped spindles, I adjusted the (4" narrowed) beam to be the same height when unladen as it was before. The front end now rubs a little when going over very big bumps/potholes at speeds, but it is SO much more comfortable than before - ride quality is now good, before it was terrible. I've easily got 3-4" between wheel and tyre when unladen.

You'll probably find the issue significantly more with your wheel/tyre choice on a stock width beam, as I imagine it would catch the outer arch reinforcement, whereas mine catches the top of the wheel tubs. I plan to make some mounts for bump stops as soon as the weather permits.

 

[aspro]

Hey Shaun

Saw your bus on Kombiclub nice score mate. The stance looked good with the 14's. You're only creating headaches with those 17's. In my opinion, if you want to run 17's on a bus you need to get very low which would involve tubbing the wheel arches, notching the chassis and a King link beam. Otherwise it just looks silly. I would go back to a 14 or 15" wheel. Post up some before and after pics and get some opinions.

 

[Karmann70]

If you want to run 17's on a bus you need to get very low which would involve tubbing the wheel arches, notching the chassis and a King link beam. Otherwise it just looks silly.

True .

 

[rockandrollcamper]

Have a look at this thread if you haven't already http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17219&hilit=Bays+lowered&start=20" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[drindiana]

Thanks guys helpful responses. Plenty of food for thought. Am starting to lean towards biting the bullet and going full red9 wishbone setup and being able to play more easily with stance & ride.
I don't really need to drop it further, my aim is ride comfort.
Was planning on attaching the photos of before and after as requested but I keep on getting an error saying "Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached." Am thinking that is nothing to do with me, not sure though.

 

[drindiana]

Figured out a way to share some before and after shots avoiding the EB forum attachment issue.
Links below.
Before: The day I inspected it. Already lowered and with standard wheels.
https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D6453721_3744784_955615" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Today: Note the same stance. The 17's and the 50 series profile were chosen to match the circumference of the stock wheel so avoiding speedo issues.
https://www.sugarsync.com/pf/D6453721_3744784_955535" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Marvel]

Herre you go fella

 

[drindiana]

Thanks

 

[aspro]

Hey Shaun

Looks very nice. If you're happy with the wheels and stance and all you want is to improve ride quality then the dropped spindles are definitely the way forward. Combined with some coilovers or air shocks you should see a vast improvement in comfort. Send me a PM if you decide to go down this route and I should be able to help you out.

 

[drindiana]

Thanks Aspro.
As you mention coilover shocks I note that Red9 have a coilover shock setup called EZ rider. Would this give me a similar stance and better ride than the adjustable beam setup I have now?

 

[aspro]

Yes it would. However the set up is an entire changeover of your front end including the steering and it's not cheap.

Do a search on Red9 on here. There are lots of guys running their set up. I personally would opt for the dropped spindles if you're happy with your current ride height.

 

[drindiana]

Actually I was meaning not the double wishbone setup which looks great but rather the EZ RIDER COIL-OVER CONVERSION KIT – BAY WINDOW CAMPER
http://www.red9design.com/type2.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The cheaper kit is a mod to the beam replacing the torsion bars and replacing the shocks from my read.