Lowering Gurus wanted - The Gaz shock thread

[ozziedog]

bump

 

[Weeman]

So is anyone running sum coilovers on the rear also ????

 

[ozziedog]

There don`t seem to be much need for coily s on the rear as The suspension copes fairly well. On the front, it`s mainly to assist the leafs suspension and possibly to restrict it a little at the end of its travel.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,, Just ordered some myself for the front :mrgreen:

 

[Sm1thy]

I've got a standard set up on my 72 crossbreed!!
Wanting drop spindles an Gaz to front and either horse shoe or spring plates to lower rear !!
Not got experience or time to do myself!!
Anybody recommend someone in northwest to get this done ASAP for me???

 

[vertecal]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the advice on this thread, I've been searching for the ideal shocks for about 2 years and have just ordered a set of these from Rallydesign.co.uk with 1.9", 10", 150 springs, I live in Australia, so shipping is normally a killer (but don't have to pay the 20% VAT) came to £245 (AUD $410) including shipping.

 

[vertecal]

Arrived on Monday, UK to Australia in 3 days :shock: It normally takes about 10 days to get stuff bought within Australia.

 

[MATTT]

the rear suspension on mine has sagged a little
can you add coilovers to rasie it slightly and stiffen the rear if you are towing?

or would I be better adjusting the rear torsion bar to raise it back up
its standard height on stock 185 70 tyres
thanks
matt

 

[ozziedog]

The natural stance when new was a little nose up :roll: BUT,,, after forty odd years I spose the ass will sag on most. If you take it up just one spline on the torsion bars, that should get it back to roughly where it was. There are inner and outer splines so try not to drag the torsion bar out of his inners. Some say to mark with a felt tip or a centre punch where the springplate meshes with the bar so you know where you have started off, not a bad idea.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,, :mrgreen:

 

[Earl Bay]

Can somebody shed some light on this please:

First of all: Wow!! what an improvement in ride quality, even steering got better.
I need some finetuning hints though:
I'm on dropped spindles and I have adjusters on my beam. I think its a balljoint beam and still running the stock 14" with 185r14. Not quite sure at the moment, but I have sth. like 6 teeth left to go lower .
So I installed some 160/105 with 10inch/150lbs spring. (the pic in the panelvan porn thread is with standard shocks).
The front came up by an inch (maybe a bit more 3cm i think) after installing them. But contrary to the most of you here I'm at 6,5cm from the bottom thread with almost 0 tension on the spring (just barely so it doesnt pop out while letting it get back on its feet). 10cm and it would be ready for takeoff.

So how do I go lower: Can i wind down the spring, say another 2cm? That i figure would mean less travel for the damper itself, combined with the fear the spring could pop out while letting the car back down on its wheels (the way I remember it the thingy on top of the shock that holds the spring in place is fixed and cant move).

Or do i have to lower it via the adjusters on the beam? I'll go lower on the adjusters when i get new tires and rims anyway. But that will have to wait till winter.

Thing is, its just cosmetic at the moment. It rides terrific. No rubbing what so ever. But I have the impression that it has a slight nose up rake (It had a nose down rake before, thats where i want to get back to). Just barely really. I dont have a proper jack at the moment plus I actually wanted to go on holidays tommorrow. If I'm lucky the springs settled a bit during the past week. I've only driven 30km after I installed them shocks.
What do you guys think? Lowering possible via the springs or not? sorry for the long post

 

[Mickey Sam]

Just a note to anyone still unsure :

Having read this thread over and over , I bought a pair of Gaz shocks ,16", 160/105 with 10inch/150lbs springs.
I fitted them Saturday and , as others have said, I don't know why I didn't fit them ages ago.
I was never happy with the cheap crap coil overs that I bought at the same time as my dropped spindles.

I did a quick test drive on Saturday and what a difference !!!!
I'm still fine tuning the ride but, even on the worst case scenario setting, they are still 100% worth the money and I
have no doubt that I will eventually fine tune mine for my perfect ride.

With the amount of praise Graham L has been receiving lately on the forum I think he can already 'walk on water' but I would
like to add my thanks Graham L and to Aspro for starting the thread and 67 Westy, Andy O and all the others who contributed.

OK- 'Oscar 'speech over - ,cheers guys, info and advice much appreciated.

 

[67westy]

Glad to see we are still having success stories I have some 150lb springs on the way soon so I'm looking forward to giving them a try.

What do you guys think? Lowering possible via the springs or not? sorry for the long post

I would say drop the spring down lower, it's there to control the ride height. If you don't get the results you want then give the adjusters a go

 

[cotswoldiver]

With regards to the GAZ Dampers that Adam mentions above I'm happy to share the information with people as the intention was to offer them at a good deal by buying in bulk but couldn't get enough interest to buy them in the right quantity.

I've checked the records this morning and the dampers that have been fitted to Monty (my old 69 Panel Van, Adams (67 Westy) and are currently fitted to my latest bus 'Billy' are GAZ Units 160/105B12, they are fitted from memory with 9" Springs but can double check that, I'm currently running 150lb springs but when Adam had them they where fitted with 125lb springs.

Happy to show people and let people have a go in my bus if it helps, they are 10 times better than the bug pack ones which are off the back of a beetle, are height adjustable within reason, they have never bottomed out (dont get me wrong the beam has hit the floor a few times) but thats due to bad roads rather than the dampers, don't suffer from any wheel arch rub and I won't win slimmer of the year anytime soon :lol: :lol: . Bus is on transporterhaus dropped spindles.

Graham

From your research, did the GAZ dampers appear to be the best solution just for lowered buses, or in your opinion are they the best damper when put against the likes of SPAX, KONI, etc.

I'm finally getting the westy on a weigh bridge tomorrow to see what the full loaded weight is likely to be with half the oak forest that I usually carry in it with the usual camping gear as I'm concerned that standard shocks may not be up to the job, but adjustable ones may be better - unless I am totally on the wrong track :?

 

[ozziedog]

Yer Tis :mrgreen:

 

[AndyO]

like to add my thanks Graham L and to Aspro for starting the thread and 67 Westy, Andy O and all the others who contributed.

OK- 'Oscar 'speech over - ,cheers guys, info and advice much appreciated.

Haven't been on here for a while and read the above, makes you feel all warm inside.... Glad to see there still such a success!

 

[mi2itsdl]

Can somebody shed some light on this please:

First of all: Wow!! what an improvement in ride quality, even steering got better.
I need some finetuning hints though:
I'm on dropped spindles and I have adjusters on my beam. I think its a balljoint beam and still running the stock 14" with 185r14. Not quite sure at the moment, but I have sth. like 6 teeth left to go lower .
So I installed some 160/105 with 10inch/150lbs spring. (the pic in the panelvan porn thread is with standard shocks).
The front came up by an inch (maybe a bit more 3cm i think) after installing them. But contrary to the most of you here I'm at 6,5cm from the bottom thread with almost 0 tension on the spring (just barely so it doesnt pop out while letting it get back on its feet). 10cm and it would be ready for takeoff.

So how do I go lower: Can i wind down the spring, say another 2cm? That i figure would mean less travel for the damper itself, combined with the fear the spring could pop out while letting the car back down on its wheels (the way I remember it the thingy on top of the shock that holds the spring in place is fixed and cant move).

Or do i have to lower it via the adjusters on the beam? I'll go lower on the adjusters when i get new tires and rims anyway. But that will have to wait till winter.

Thing is, its just cosmetic at the moment. It rides terrific. No rubbing what so ever. But I have the impression that it has a slight nose up rake (It had a nose down rake before, thats where i want to get back to). Just barely really. I dont have a proper jack at the moment plus I actually wanted to go on holidays tommorrow. If I'm lucky the springs settled a bit during the past week. I've only driven 30km after I installed them shocks.
What do you guys think? Lowering possible via the springs or not? sorry for the long post

Had a similar issue with my bus. Had a narrowed beam fitted so I could lower it a bit more and not have the tyre catch on the outer lip of the arch. Already running drop spindles and GAZ Coilovers. Did not want to have the beam adjusted too low and risk it hitting the floor, so had it lowered via the adjustable spring plates. Took it for a test drive and no rubbing on the outer arch or the arch roof (some rubbing on the inner arch now due to the 7x15 Wheels, but that is a different story. Spaced out a bit for now) However, while driving on a rough (ish) A-Road there was a big bang. Loud enough to make me think, oh FxxK what have I broken !! Took it back to the garage, and it was due to the springs being too loose and not under compression. Think when I went down a dip, one of the springs moved and smashed into the top cup. The spring plates needed winding up about 1 to 1.5 inches, before the springs sat comfortable between the top and lower mounts. Not happy, but had to be done.

I have the GAZ coilovers that most people have, with 10" 150 lb springs. Could I fit 11" or 12" springs, but at a lower spring rate say 120lbs so they can compress more and then fit them in and wind the spring plate back down ?? Does this make sence? Can this be done, would it work, and would I need to lower the spring rate??
Any help appreciated.

Pics of my bus - it is crossover so please no sarcy comments

 

[jonboylaw]

You can buy assister springs that are designed to fit between the coil and the cup and hold it in place when the suspension is in droop. Do a search for them.


Sent from my GX64 SatCom phone using Tapatalk

 

[67westy]

Might just be me but I'm a bit confused as to why your spring could move? I would have thought you would want it to at least be touching when fully extended so the spring can't move and then with the grub screw tightened it shouldnt be able to come loose?or are you backing it off when it's loaded so when it extends the spring is loose?

Or have I misunderstood entirely

 

[jonboylaw]

As you are thinking, on full droop the spring maybe losing contact with the upper retaining cup, this is usually when the lower adjuster cup is would down for the ride height. Fitting a low spring rate assister spring should cure this. Look on Demon Tweeks for info, but shop elsewhere for a better price


Sent from my GX64 SatCom phone using Tapatalk

 

[mi2itsdl]

You can buy assister springs that are designed to fit between the coil and the cup and hold it in place when the suspension is in droop. Do a search for them.

Cheers......wil take a look

 

[Bobster]

When I've fitted my t'hause spindles I neglected to change the shocks and having been away for the first weekend in the bus the drive was scary to say the least due to the amount of tyre rub on the arches.

I'm therefore looking to fit some Gaz shocks asap ready for my next trip away in a fortnight. As I need these relatively quickly could anyone confirm that these are the correct items for me :-

http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=5244" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Many Thanks