California Exclusive suspension lift - suggestions?

[tdi_ywg]

Greetings!

Sitting in a campground in Sequoia National Park in California, USA at the moment. Lovely piece of the Earth to check out if you ever have the chance, but be sure to visit Canada before heading here as it's much more tranquil.

After about 30K km in the past nine months, including 21K km on North American roads (for the uninitiated, it means inconsistent surfaces even when paved and, purely by choice, many gravel/dirt backcounty roads riddled with potholes large enough to double as duck ponds. I swear I drove through one the size of Hyde Park's Round Pond), I think I think I have decided where I want to go with the suspension on my 2001 Cali Exclusive: Up. I've no desire for a stiffer ride. I have not been disappointed by the feel of the original suspension.

Here is what I am currently thinking:
-change wheels/ti(y)res from 195/70/15 to 205/60/16 to gain about 10mm ride height
-new rear springs to refresh rear ride height
-tighten torsion bars to raise front end
-install 75-100mm spacers

Has anyone out there gone where I am thinking of going? Suggestions? I don't see any lift/spacer kits available in NA, which doesn't surprise me, so will likely have to import a kit from the EU or GB, or get the specs and have my machinist pal make me some spacers.

Any suggestions for how much to tighten torsion bars?

I think that's all for now.

Thanks for the input!

Scotty

 

[WelshGas]

Greetings!

Sitting in a campground in Sequoia National Park in California, USA at the moment. Lovely piece of the Earth to check out if you ever have the chance, but be sure to visit Canada before heading here as it's much more tranquil.

After about 30K km in the past nine months, including 21K km on North American roads (for the uninitiated, it means inconsistent surfaces even when paved and, purely by choice, many gravel/dirt backcounty roads riddled with potholes large enough to double as duck ponds. I swear I drove through one the size of Hyde Park's Round Pond), I think I think I have decided where I want to go with the suspension on my 2001 Cali Exclusive: Up. I've no desire for a stiffer ride. I have not been disappointed by the feel of the original suspension.

Here is what I am currently thinking:
-change wheels/ti(y)res from 195/70/15 to 205/60/16 to gain about 10mm ride height
-new rear springs to refresh rear ride height
-tighten torsion bars to raise front end
-install 75-100mm spacers

Has anyone out there gone where I am thinking of going? Suggestions? I don't see any lift/spacer kits available in NA, which doesn't surprise me, so will likely have to import a kit from the EU or GB, or get the specs and have my machinist pal make me some spacers.

Any suggestions for how much to tighten torsion bars?

I think that's all for now.

Thanks for the input!

Scotty

View attachment 28977

Hi. Loved both Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks.
But back to your query. I’m not a suspension guru by any means, but if you don’t get the answers you need on this Forum I would suggest asking here.
http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=146

Raising suspension can be as problematic as lowering with changes in Drive shaft angles being moved to the extreme rather than mid-point with changes in wheel settings etc: and possible premature wear of drive shafts etc. If not done correctly.

http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=945529

https://www.spaccer.com/en_AU/makes-and-models/vw/transporter-t4-bus.html

https://www.seikel.de/shop/lift-kit-for-t4-front-wheel-drive/?lang=eh

 

[sidepod]

Front end is easy, as you say just tighten the torsion bar nuts. These will need a 27mm socket , pref 3/4 drive and a BIG breaker bar. Soak them in WD40 for a couple of weeks before. Amount of movement is trial and error till you get it right. A good opportunity to dial out the Westy lean.

Rear is easy. Just add extra doughnut spacers above the springs. 75-100 seems excessive?
Again trial and error.

It will alter camber angles but I don’t think you’ll be traveling quickly enough to be a problem.

As WG says, the T4 forum has tons of stuff on the subject.

Enjoy.

 

[pureinla]

Hey Scotty,
T4 stuff is harder to come by in NA. The T4forum.de is a great resource I use all the time for my '99 Syncro. Check the Syncro forum for recommended heights. From memory I think you're shooting for 46-48 hub center to outermost rib on wheel arch. With 1cm less in front. Check to me sure. I'm looking at buying an Exclusive and will be doing the same thing.

You can buy rear spring spacers from Cole Ford at Cave Van here...

https://shop.cavevan.com/collections/eurovan/products/eurovan-lift-spacers

 

[pureinla]

I'm in British Columbia by the way. Where are you? I'd love to get inside an Exclusive before I buy one from Europe.

 

[mrcheesbrough]

Greetings!

Sitting in a campground in Sequoia National Park in California, USA at the moment. Lovely piece of the Earth to check out if you ever have the chance, but be sure to visit Canada before heading here as it's much more tranquil.

After about 30K km in the past nine months, including 21K km on North American roads (for the uninitiated, it means inconsistent surfaces even when paved and, purely by choice, many gravel/dirt backcounty roads riddled with potholes large enough to double as duck ponds. I swear I drove through one the size of Hyde Park's Round Pond), I think I think I have decided where I want to go with the suspension on my 2001 Cali Exclusive: Up. I've no desire for a stiffer ride. I have not been disappointed by the feel of the original suspension.

Here is what I am currently thinking:
-change wheels/ti(y)res from 195/70/15 to 205/60/16 to gain about 10mm ride height
-new rear springs to refresh rear ride height
-tighten torsion bars to raise front end
-install 75-100mm spacers

Has anyone out there gone where I am thinking of going? Suggestions? I don't see any lift/spacer kits available in NA, which doesn't surprise me, so will likely have to import a kit from the EU or GB, or get the specs and have my machinist pal make me some spacers.

Any suggestions for how much to tighten torsion bars?

I think that's all for now.

Thanks for the input!

Scotty

View attachment 28977

Use the rear springs and front torsion bars to gain height. If anything you should go for smaller wheels with a higher profile tyre to offer extra cushioning. Just take a look at any off-road vehicle and only the ones that prowl city streets have large diameter wheels with low profile tyres.

 

[tdi_ywg]

Thanks for the replies. I think I've revised my lift expectations down a bit. 50mm seems more reasonable. Perhaps some taller-sidewall 16" tires would be a good way to get some additional height? Not sure about that one.
@pureinla, I live in Winnipeg but presently am in southern California. If you feel like coming to Winnipeg some time after April the van will be back there. You're more than welcome to check it out. Or, just pay for my wife and I to go across the pond and find one for you! I'm only half joking. Ok, less than half joking. Ask us. We'll happily go there again.

 

[tdi_ywg]

@mrcheesbrough, I hear what you're saying but smooth ride on logging roads is not what I'm after. I need clearance plain and simple. Cushion does not matter when you are creeping down a logging road at 10km/h tops. I'm definitely not going low profile, though.
Thanks for the input!

 

[pureinla]

Scotty,
Thanks for the invite! Not sure I can wait that long. I've got bussiness in Stockholm next month. I've got a van in Germany I'd like to go see.
Go for a lift. My '99 Syncro is lifted and I can cruise the logging roads here without a problem.

 

[tdi_ywg]

Stockholm eh? Pick up a T4 Syncro Doka 2.5 TDI for me while you're there. My cousins live in northern Sweden and I visited them this past summer. I could not believe how many Dokas there are there.
If you want me and my wife to review anything about the one you're going to check out we'd be happy to.
If you want to come down to Phoenix in a few weeks to check ours out we'll be there for about a week visiting relatives.

Tell me about your wheels and tires please.

Thanks,
Scotty

 

[pureinla]

I was waiting in line for the ferry at Cortez island this summer and this was parked behind me...


It was a Syncro. A little older short nose, probably a 2.4.

My van runs on stock 15" steels with H&R spacers (25mm rear I think). Tires are BFG KO AT2 215 75 15's

 

[chuggertwo]

run mine on goldschmitt semi air suspension.
much marcle leisure do dunlop kits.... and chap there is quite knowledgeable about such things.... I'm not!
http://www.marcleleisure.co.uk/

 

[tdi_ywg]

Nice doka. There is one T4 doka in Winnipeg I know of and it's also a '92 or '93.
How are you planning to ship your Cali to Canada, and to where?
@chuggertwo: thanks for the link. I'll check that out.

 

[tdi_ywg]

@chuggertwo: which Dunlop kit did you install? I do not see any kits for the T4.

 

[pureinla]

I'm going to container ship it to Vancouver I think. How did you get yours here? Shipping Roro to Tacoma was another option, but not that much cheaper as I'd still have to get to Tacoma.

 

[tdi_ywg]

Container shipped it to southern Ontario. My cousin in White Rock recently told me about someone in the YVR area who brings in multiple containers at a time from Europe. He thinks their pricing might be real good. If you want I can try to get contact info.

 

[tdi_ywg]

Alright, I think I have finalized my plans!

Wheel/tires - 225/70/16 - 33.7mm increased height
New HD springs - (701 511 105B) plus 38mm spacers
Crank up torsion bars to match rear raise (and level things out left-to-right)
Fox shock kit from GoWesty

Methinks the pucker factor will be greatly reduced with the new setup.

 

[WelshGas]

Alright, I think I have finalized my plans!

Wheel/tires - 225/70/16 - 33.7mm increased height
New HD springs - (701 511 105B) plus 38mm spacers
Crank up torsion bars to match rear raise (and level things out left-to-right)
Fox shock kit from GoWesty

Methinks the pucker factor will be greatly reduced with the new setup.

If the change in tyre size contributes 33.7 mm to the height rise then this will mean an increase in wheel/tyre diameter of 67.4 mm and a not insignificant effect on the Speedometer reading and an effect on the gearing and power output at the wheel.

Is this going to be compensated for in some way?

 

[tdi_ywg]

Not initially, but after I have a chance to evaluate things after the van is back on the road I'll decide if I want to upgrade my nozzles and have the ECU remapped.

 

[pureinla]

Hey Scotty, been a while for a few days. Yes, please let me know who's shipping containers.

Skip the Fox. I have them, they barely have enough rebound damping for the Multivan. Definitely not enough for the CE

 

[tdi_ywg]

Ok, will do.

Thanks for the tip on the Fox shocks! Was planning to pull the trigger on them tomorrow. Guess I'll go with the Bilstein XHDs instead.

 

[sidepod]

Wow. Rebound damping. We are getting techy!

 

[pureinla]

Check out the Koni HD's as well. They seem to be one of the best based on what the German board has shown >Sachs, > Bilstein.

Fire me an email at pureinla@+++++++.com if you can get that info from your cousin...I found a van.

 

[ArcticMatt]

I've just fitted the Seikel lift kit to my Syncro back in the UK. I'd heard the kit gave a better ride than others due to the special shocks. It's about 35mm overall which is just about right. Not cheap though but worth it for me

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

 

[Thealastair34]

Hi,

I have tried to raise mine after fitting larger tyres and there is very little room in the front to get a spanner on the torsion nuts, and they are very very very tight at stock height, mine started moving but would have taken ages to move it up as you can only get around 10mm movement before your spanner hits the heater