Lowering - Now driving crap - help needed

[LA Bay]

Well last year I decided to take the plunge and get the bay lowered.

Transporterhaus dropped spindles were used and eventually low profile tyres were put on....however

The bus used to be tight and drive well but is a total bag of b******s now!! In fact to a point I'm almost petrified to drive it when hitting bumps etc for swerving and not feeling under total control.

Now I know transporthaus sell spindles depending on year and just wondering if a 70 spindle has been fitted on my 71/72 crossover bus, would that make any difference?

Also will the low profile tyres have made any difference to drive? But standard tyres were rubbing.

I did take the bay to another garage to have a look at and they condemned the dropped spindles as extremely dangerous and recommended changing them.

I'm in the scenario that I feel like just taking it back to stock but will be down the best part of £1k, but what the point of having a bus I hate to drive. Breaking down I can do, failing MOT's I can do, leaking rubbers no problem, rust here and there fine, but a bus I actually am concerned about my/other life makes me sit up and think WTF.

Really could do with someones help. Cheers

 

[67westy]

What shocks do you have? Mine is lowered in the same way and drives really nice now. The gaz coilovers made a massive difference to how it handles and rides.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[gonzomillstrood]

Stupid question, but did you get the tracking done once you lowered it? Because it will drive like a pile of poop until you do.
Before I got the tracking done on mine, driving down the motorway was pretty much a suicide mission.

 

[LA Bay]

What shocks do you have? Mine is lowered in the same way and drives really nice now. The gaz coilovers made a massive difference to how it handles and rides.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Cheers 67westy for the reply.

Shock haven't been changed so is possibly an option? You running low profile tyres too?

 

[LA Bay]

Stupid question, but did you get the tracking done once you lowered it? Because it will drive like a pile of poop until you do.
Before I got the tracking done on mine, driving down the motorway was pretty much a suicide mission.

Cheers for the quick reply

Originally tracking wasn't done, but the second garage to take a look have now sorted the tracking which as you say was miles out.

Still got the problem driving it though, the ride home was not enjoyable, and that's always been why I love the bus

 

[67westy]

I'm running 175/65/14s on the front although I'm looking to move up in the size since I got the gaz shocks on. Have a read: http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=45111" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They stop pretty much all rubbing and grounding of the beam and firm everything up a bit. Should also mean you can go to a bigger tyre if you wish so will be able to opt for a stronger side wall.

Tracking is still on my list of things to get checked......

 

[67westy]

OH an where are you? Quite a few folk have the gaz shocks now so there might be someone nearby who is willing to take you for a ride

 

[Moseley]

So what is the actual problem?

You say it is dangerous, but what exactly is wrong?

 

[LA Bay]

I'm running 175/65/14s on the front although I'm looking to move up in the size since I got the gaz shocks on. Have a read: http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=45111" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They stop pretty much all rubbing and grounding of the beam and firm everything up a bit. Should also mean you can go to a bigger tyre if you wish so will be able to opt for a stronger side wall.

Tracking is still on my list of things to get checked......

Nice one cheers

I would like a slightly bigger tyre, as I'm sure the low profile tyres on the front made it a little worse.

I'm based in Staffordshire, and really want to sort it out

 

[LA Bay]

So what is the actual problem?

You say it is dangerous, but what exactly is wrong?

Ok, there is play in the steering (steering box isn't 100% either)

But when I go over bumps/uneven road services it can veer to the left/right doesn't feel tight. Sometimes it almost like nearly losing control of the vehicle.

Thing is I could say steering box but before lowering was fine.....

The beam is also catching but maybe changing the shocks will help this. Also I do believe the lower profile tyres have worsened the drive.

 

[LA Bay]

Front tyres are 185/60/R14

 

[andy11]

IMO lowering always makes these buses drive crap because it reduces the caster angle and therefore the ability to drive in a straight line is lost. It seems to magnify any faults and it sounds like you have a classic combination of faults like an unadjusted steering box and worn steering components. I would get the tracking checked again (what was it tracked at ? ) adjust the steering box and replace the steering pin. It will never drive the same again but you will get used to it and you do have a bus that looks a lot cooler Until someone brings a Caster beam out will have to live with it !

 

[sparkywig]

Transporterhaus have got a beam out with adjustable caster.
Too long/short shocks, non-load rated tyres, and worn steering components all contribute to hazardous steering.
If you beam's hitting the road you need to raise the bus.

 

[neilswheels]

Just fitted TH spindles to mine, stock ride at the back at present, so stupid rake, stock tyres, KYB Gas shocks (cos the bus came with them) drives a treat. Did you put the track rods on right, i.e upside down? The spindles have been moded to allow the track rods to be fitted from underneath to reduce the angle and therefor bump steer.
The experience i've had with low pro tyres on a bug and bus resulted in both vehicles 'tram lining' in truck grooves on motorways, but plenty of people use them.

And yes, TH have just finished there Caster adjustable beams, narrowed, raised tubes pretty trick looking, check their facebook page.

 

[bluenose]

I did take the bay to another garage to have a look at and they condemned the dropped spindles as extremely dangerous and recommended changing them.

what reason did they give for them being dangerous?

 

[r73]

I put dropped spindles on my bus and Ive got to say it drives lovely............................now that Ive taken them off and gone back to stock :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

totally unhelpful post, sorry, but I couldnt help it :roll:

i would say your steering geometry is still out, any problem you have may feel worse once lowered.
it sounds obvious but jack it up and give the wheels a wobble - check the ball joint nuts are tightened down fully and the trailing arms are firmly located in the beam as well - just in case..........................

 

[john the horse]

mate i feel ya but i doubt the tyres size is to blame , we run dropped spindles and 45 profile on the front they are fine, however we have a completley diff set up.

ran a beetle with lo pro and no shocks and that was cool too, gotta be a steering linkage and or tracking as the lower you go the steering does change and get harder to boot.

my 10p worth

jth

usually wrong :msn4:

 

[Clem]

As has been said, get the tracking re-checked and get the camber adjusted (as much as is possible). If the beam is catching, then raise the bus a bit, or fit the coilovers as this may solve that issue. Check tyre pressures and remember that doing such modifications changes the way the van feels and drives, so if you drive it as you did previously it may be dangerous, but thats not to say the van itself is dangerous - if that makes sense.
Take with a pinch of salt a regular garage that condemns something that they may not be instantly familiar with ie. flipped spindles

 

[LA Bay]

IMO lowering always makes these buses drive crap because it reduces the caster angle and therefore the ability to drive in a straight line is lost. It seems to magnify any faults and it sounds like you have a classic combination of faults like an unadjusted steering box and worn steering components. I would get the tracking checked again (what was it tracked at ? ) adjust the steering box and replace the steering pin. It will never drive the same again but you will get used to it and you do have a bus that looks a lot cooler Until someone brings a Caster beam out will have to live with it !

Cheers Andy

Took it to a 'VW Aircooled specialist' feel right royally ripped off tbh. Paid a fortune to have a service, get them to check the suspension and MOT. I just thought I'd get a second opinion.

I'll have to see about the steering box and steering pin.

 

[LA Bay]

As has been said, get the tracking re-checked and get the camber adjusted (as much as is possible). If the beam is catching, then raise the bus a bit, or fit the coilovers as this may solve that issue. Check tyre pressures and remember that doing such modifications changes the way the van feels and drives, so if you drive it as you did previously it may be dangerous, but thats not to say the van itself is dangerous - if that makes sense.
Take with a pinch of salt a regular garage that condemns something that they may not be instantly familiar with ie. flipped spindles

Very true Clem, at first they thought they'd be fitted up side down and needed re-fitting, when I mentioned Transporterhaus they hadn't even heard of them.

Maybe then I should get the tracking re-checked and camber adjusted. Also going to look at the coilovers previously mentioned.