How Low Can You Get ?

[Stirlingmoz]

No, not a tale of being ripped off or done over. I was wondering how low
you can go with a bay and it still be practical. No grinding over speed
humps etc. I was hoping it was possible to lower it enough to fit inside a
conventional garage ? (up and over door). It's such a shame 'Buster' has
to live out in the wind and rain when theres a warm dry space nearby
(mother in law's garage !!).

Thanks for looking

Stirlingmoz

 

[Araon]

Take a look at Strongies hes in a up and over but still tweeking it as he has probs when reversing onto some drives...suppose he could cut and weld the exhaust so it hides under the bumper a little more...
But he doesnt seem to have too many speed bump probs....

 

[jabbo]

Think Alex must have the lowest bay on here, which is a good example of how low you can go;

8)

Guessing that low permanently wouldn't be practical for you though. Have you thought about the possibility of fitting air suspension? That way you could drive at one height and lower it more to get it in the garage?

 

[Cali-Bay]

I lowered my van 2 splines at the rear & a bluebird adjuster on up front on its lowest setting. The van now (just) fitts in my standard garrage with an up & over door. It is a tin top though, i guess with a pop top you'd have little / no hope. Hope this helps

 

[Tofufi]

My tintop is 1 spline lowered at the rear and has a 4" narrowed beam at the front. Needs dropped spindles. At the moment it clears the garage door (up and over style) by about 1/4".

I've never hit a speed bump and the ride quality is pretty decent until you fill the van with people etc, think it finds the bump stops then.

Currently it just clears kerbs with the exaust (monza 4 tip (excuse the swearing)) or the front bumper. Handy for car parks as I just about don't scrape anything.

Shiny most recent picture I have.

and it just clears kerbs:

Needs to go lower :twisted:

 

[Stirlingmoz]

All..Thanks very useful. Adjustable height thingys on front axle..air
suspension..hmm..

I could lop the up and over door off and go for a good old fashioned twin
opening doors but it's not my garage.

Time for a ponder methinks


Stirlingmoz

 

[easy]

Mine is a couple of splines down at the back and dropped spindles up front. I keep it in a normal garage but with side hinged doors as the up and over doors are a pain cos the lock hangs down.

I rased mine up have a spline from this photo as it was a bit scary with the exhaust going over sleeping policemen as you would scrap em if you went at the wrong angle :shock:

As you can see here, it fits.....just! :shock: :wink:

New beam soon, so its going lower at the front and a tad narrower, just as soon as I can source some pesky lower profile white walls :evil: not as easy as you would have thought

 

[Tofufi]

Ez, do you run proper whitewalls or tyre flaps?

I had the tyre flaps on my bug but they disintegrated

 

[Guest]

tyre flaps are kack as soon as they are kerbed your fecked. better off spending for the real thing.

 

[easy]

**oops**

 

[easy]

These are proper white walls, moulded into the tyre when made. I have seen many cheaper versions that dont look or perform remotely well. The only trouble is getting the lower profile type. (This is due to the whitewall thickness in relation to the "space" needed on the tyre)

I think that the state may be the only place for them. 8)

The tyre size i have is 205 X 70 X 15 :wink:

 

[Guest]

blackcircles.com seem pretty good, they have whitewalls in stock various sizes but the lowest profile was 70.

 

[easy]

Cheers Johnny, just called em and they are super helpful! really nice and gave me loads of info.......but they only do 70s the search continues closer to the states me thinks. :wink:

 

[kempy]

Mine is a couple of splines down at the back and dropped spindles up front. I keep it in a normal garage but with side hinged doors as the up and over doors are a pain cos the lock hangs down.

I rased mine up have a spline from this photo as it was a bit scary with the exhaust going over sleeping policemen as you would scrap em if you went at the wrong angle :shock:

As you can see here, it fits.....just! :shock: :wink:

New beam soon, so its going lower at the front and a tad narrower, just as soon as I can source some pesky lower profile white walls :evil: not as easy as you would have thought

Did you use ball joint spindles and if so what drop are they and also what tyre size you running up front.

I'm in the process of seriously looking at going down that route and feedback appreciated.

I'm not sure if 2.5" drop is enough but then again 4.1" may be too much.

Also where did you source from as don't really fancy the bus sitting on stands for a month if i use slammedpanel and don't want to buy a pair to send away beto them with a set either.

Mike

 

[kempy]

Just read the whole thread and noticed tyre size & whell size but still interested in the rest.

Mike

 

[easy]

Dude! i changed to this set up around 7 years ago and cant remember what drop spindles i used i will have a look through the old receipts for you tho :wink: from memory the spindles give around 4" drop from stock, which just gives you around an inch from tyre to arch. So as long as you have good shocks you wont ground them out. (i have only once and it was a nasty pot hole :evil: )

Next up i will use a cool air adjustable narrowed beam and bits for the drop, plus lower profile tyres (if i can ever find em! :shock: ) ideally i may tub the arches as i want to run the same wheel and tyre combo, but these would have to be 1 - 2 inch tubs and as i am 6ft 2 i may get pretty close to the roof with me head! but hey its a small price to pay :wink:

 

[faux]

Mine is pretty low but still wont fit in the garage. The Westy roof doesn't help

 

[kempy]

If it was down to me I'd fit 4"dropped spindles with a 4" narrowed beam with CSP front discs running Flat4 Porsche fuch's 4.5" up front.

However the van has got to fit around the family so considering going to 15" standard rims with 2.5" dropped spindles to fill the gap.

I don't want to spend the money on the fuch wheels but god they look good and a little different on a westy.

But saying that i think Clem's van looks the dogs bollocks with stock rims as seen in the flesh at vanfest.

My problem is that i can't make my feck'in mind up and when i do i change it.

don't know what to do.

Mike

 

[kempy]

My last bus.

Very very low and unpractical.

 

[lobus]

I've got adjusters on mine, front and rear and I can go so low at the front that you can't get your hand between the tyre and wheel tub, I've also got torsion bar stiffeners in the front to firm the whole thing up and adjustable bump stops as well. I could drive around solo and without much gear on board very well with it very low, but I have weakened a bit and raised it a tad.
There isn't a cheap way to lower them and still get a good ride. I think that without the stiffeners I would be bottoming out consistently so it is worth it to bite the bullet and do it properly.