Lowered Beam - Adjusting it

[Graham L]

Hi

Just found this forum, have been posting on a few of the other VW forums but am glad I found this one for early bays.

Just bought a 1970 tintip westfalia called 'Hank' from Miss Fish who posts on here.

I'm sure its been asked before but as a newbie to the vw sccene, how do I adjust the front beam back up, I'm told it got Creative adjusters on it but how easy it it to raise the ride height.

ie: where do I jack the vehicle up from so I can adjust the beam?, how easy are the adjusters to get to?

Any help/assistance gratefully recieved

 

[Graham L]

Anyone out there who can help with this question :?:

 

[Guest]

i usually just jack the van up on the front beam on a flat surface :wink: being careful not to bend a grease nipple

the adjusters should be visible in the middle of both beams, they are easy enough to adjust depending on the type you have, can you take a pictue when your underneath?

 

[Graham L]

Johnny

Thanks for this, stupid question but if you jack under the beam can you still adjust it? (Do I presume you are rotating something inside the beam itself?)

Its got creative adjusters and I can see one on the bottom beam when I look under the van (will take a piccy later) but I presume there is one higher up as well?

 

[Guest]

yes, your turning the torsion leaves housed 'inside' the beam, jacking it up on the beam wont affect the adjusting of the beam at all. I prefer the beam, especially on a rusty bus as ive had a few jacking points collapse on me. The beam is most likely the most solid part of your bus.

there should be 2 adjusters but some people use only one but this isnt a safe idea. some busses are so low they shear of the bottom adjuster. you should see another adjuster on the other beam in the same position.

Creative adjusters will have a teeth locking mechanism. You can loosen the locking nut and move it up or down depending what way you want to go, then tighten it again.

 

[kempy]

If i were you get it on some axle stands once jacked up.

The last think you want is the van either dropping on you or the jack damaging under the van if it slips.

 

[Justin & Muttley]

Wouldn't it be prudent to chock up the front hubs too - when that securing nut and collar come off you'll need to watch your fingers!!! (well, that's what I had to do on my old bug anyway )

 

[Graham L]

Thanks for your concern guys, really appreciate it.

Plan to jack the van up under the beam and then support the van with Axle stands under the chassis rails, presume this would be OK.

Will take wheels off to start off with as I plan to get the original tyres fitted back to the front rims as Kempy suggests.

If I then want to fit 15" alloys at a later date it should be at roughly the right height according to the tyre calculator I used.