How low is your California?

[andyinluton]

I need to lower it a little to get it in the garage (2m ish garage door but with the slight slope I'd like a bit of contingency - especially given the reports from some that their calis are taller than the 1995 advertised.

Mine was at about 2005mm when delivered, after loading it up a few times & using it a bit its settled at about 1990mm unloaded.

Give it a few miles to shake down before deciding what to do.
Also make sure the tyre pressures are right before measuring, if flat you can loose 10mm easily, over filled & gain 5mm.
A full fuel + add blue tank brings the front down a little, water tank affects the back by a little.

 

[Elrao]

Mine was at about 2005mm when delivered, after loading it up a few times & using it a bit its settled at about 1990mm unloaded.

Give it a few miles to shake down before deciding what to do.
Also make sure the tyre pressures are right before measuring, if flat you can loose 10mm easily, over filled & gain 5mm.
A full fuel + add blue tank brings the front down a little, water tank affects the back by a little.

It's done 5k miles nearly. Measurements above are with a full tank. It's a beach camper, so no water tank.

 

[Saesneg Shaun]

Lowering a Cali is always going to divide the crowd. Its your Cali so its up to you how low you need/want it to be.
Steve at CRS fitted Koni Special Active Shocks with -40mm springs to mine along with a thicker rear anti roll bar.
Nose up down or whatever it rides a lot better, doesn't roll or understeer so much and I like the look.

 

[Elrao]

Lowering a Cali is always going to divide the crowd. Its your Cali so its up to you how low you need/want it to be.
Steve at CRS fitted Koni Special Active Shocks with -40mm springs to mine along with a thicker rear anti roll bar.
Nose up down or whatever it rides a lot better, doesn't roll or understeer so much and I like the look.

Thanks

I took some more measurements (on more level ground - not completely level according to the display in the van).

• Rear
  • 435mm arch to wheel centre
  • ~ 90mm gap tyre to arch
  • ~305mm from the bottom of the sill to the floor.
• Front
  • 450mm arch to wheel centre
  • ~105mm gap tyre to arch
  • ~270mm on the sill

So looks like it does have a rake, albeit more like 25mm than the 40mm that CRS propose we should have. I should point out those measurements were on gravel, so could easily be +/- 10mm on the sill measurements and could be as much as 40mm.

I am torn between the same kit you have (Koni Special Active with -40mm springs) and the Eibach coilovers, so I can drop it about 50mm and, if needed, drop the front slightly more than the rear to get the 40mm rake.

Do you have any side on photos with the -40mm kit on?

 

[Saesneg Shaun]

Thanks

I took some more measurements (on more level ground - not completely level according to the display in the van).

• Rear
  • 435mm arch to wheel centre
  • ~ 90mm gap tyre to arch
  • ~305mm from the bottom of the sill to the floor.
• Front
  • 450mm arch to wheel centre
  • ~105mm gap tyre to arch
  • ~270mm on the sill

So looks like it does have a rake, albeit more like 25mm than the 40mm that CRS propose we should have. I should point out those measurements were on gravel, so could easily be +/- 10mm on the sill measurements and could be as much as 40mm.

I am torn between the same kit you have (Koni Special Active with -40mm springs) and the Eibach coilovers, so I can drop it about 50mm and, if needed, drop the front slightly more than the rear to get the 40mm rake.

Do you have any side on photos with the -40mm kit on?

heres a before/after
I fully appreciate its not everyones cup of tea but I like it!

Edit*
its probably settled anoth 10mm all around in the last few months

 

[Elrao]

heres a before/after
I fully appreciate its not everyones cup of tea but I like it!

View attachment 87483

Thanks

Are they 17s or 18s? It definitely looks a lot better at that height and I would imagine rides a lot better.

Just not sure if the extra 10-20mm drop (and VW warranty) is worth it for the sacrifice in comfort over the Koni SA shocks

 

[Saesneg Shaun]

Thanks

Are they 17s or 18s? It definitely looks a lot better at that height and I would imagine rides a lot better.

Just not sure if the extra 10-20mm drop (and VW warranty) is worth it for the sacrifice in comfort over the Koni SA shocks

Palmerston 18" standard tyres

Oh no, we will get the diamond cut alloy police on here now!

 

[andyinluton]

I am torn between the same kit you have (Koni Special Active with -40mm springs) and the Eibach coilovers, so I can drop it about 50mm and, if needed, drop the front slightly more than the rear to get the 40mm rake.

Do you have any side on photos with the -40mm kit on?

It will be interesting to see what heights you end up with. The -40mm is supposed to be compared to a normal spring, but it sounds like you have longer than normal fitted. If so you could end up with it dropping substantially more.
On the basis you would end up with the same springs as Saesneg Sean, you should end up riding the same at the front & slightly higher than him at the rear when unloaded.

 

[Elrao]

It will be interesting to see what heights you end up with. The -40mm is supposed to be compared to a normal spring, but it sounds like you have longer than normal fitted. If so you could end up with it dropping substantially more.
On the basis you would end up with the same springs as Saesneg Sean, you should end up riding the same at the front & slightly higher than him at the rear when unloaded.

Why do you say longer than normal, based on my current heights? Front or Rear?

For the record, it is a Beach Camper with nothing extra in it - but a full tank of diesel.

 

[andyinluton]

Your rear arch gap is 5mm higher than mine was when delivered and the front 13mm higher.

My van was at about 2005mm high then. It has since settled and is about 1995mm

 

[Elrao]

Your rear arch gap is 5mm higher than mine was when delivered and the front 13mm higher.

My van was at about 2005mm high then. It has since settled and is about 1995mm

I see yours is an Ocean, so would have more weight in it? Possibly also different springs too I guess.

 

[andyinluton]

I see yours is an Ocean, so would have more weight in it? Possibly also different springs too I guess.

I would expect my rear to be heavier but the front the same.
Its why I suggest that the -40mm may not give you -40mm as everyones starting point is slightly different.
None of the specialists have been able (or inclined) to answer the question of what the -40mm relates to.

 

[GrannyJen]

My rear is v

I would expect my rear to be heavier.

I know for a fact mine is

 

[Elrao]

I would expect my rear to be heavier but the front the same.
Its why I suggest that the -40mm may not give you -40mm as everyones starting point is slightly different.
None of the specialists have been able (or inclined) to answer the question of what the -40mm relates to.

Yeah, can't imagine the 199 engine is that much heavier than the 150! Is yours a 4 motion? Presume your stated heights are with nobody in the vehicle?

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Can you lower two channels where you drive wheels in? Not the whole floor?

 

[soulstyledevon]

I found the H&R springs to low…
Horses for courses and it’s a subjective matter, but prefer a plush more comfortable California.

Whatever you do, don’t have spring spacers fitted to the rear. If it’s nose down or what appears level from the outside.
It’s mostly definitely not level…!!!

Take it from someone, who’s been there and had to revert. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from years of car modding. People don’t like to admit when something they’ve changed and paid for is wrong…

 

[Elrao]

I found the H&R springs to low…
Horses for courses and it’s a subjective matter, but prefer a plush more comfortable California.

Whatever you do, don’t have spring spacers fitted to the rear. If it’s nose down or what appears level from the outside.
It’s mostly definitely not level…!!!

Take it from someone, who’s been there and had to revert. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from years of car modding. People don’t like to admit when something they’ve changed and paid for is wrong…

Which H&R springs? Did you uprate the shocks at the same time?

I don't plan to use spacers (although that is essentially what you get on the rear with coilovers - adjustable spacers).

 

[soulstyledevon]

Which H&R springs? Did you uprate the shocks at the same time?

I don't plan to use spacers (although that is essentially what you get on the rear with coilovers - adjustable spacers).

I’ve kept the Koni shocks and put the original springs on and removed the spacers and H&R 40mm springs.
Might be worth trying the 30mm Eibach if you’re dead set on dropping.

 

[Elrao]

Which Kon

I’ve kept the Koni shocks and put the original springs on and removed the spacers and H&R 40mm springs.
Might be worth trying the 30mm Eibach if you’re dead set on dropping.

Which Koni shocks did you use? With 40mm H&R, they are recommending the special active (well, actually it is a different spring, but still -40mm).

Problem with using just springs (as opposed to coilovers) is that it does depend on what springs are on your vehicle to start with, a set of 40mm springs doesn't mean you get a 40mm even drop as I am sure you are aware. This is part of the reason I am tempted by coilovers, as you can control the front and rear drop.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Koni Special Active.

 

[Abx]

I’m lowered 70mm

 

[Oldskoolcali06]

40mm lower on H&R springs. 18 steels....

 

[Jay20cali]

My T6.1 California Beach Camper is due to arrive Tuesday and I'm trying to decide how low to go.

I need to lower it a little to get it in the garage (2m ish garage door but with the slight slope I'd like a bit of contingency - especially given the reports from some that their calis are taller than the 1995 advertised.

From conversations I think the options that give the best ride at each height are

Koni Special Active Shocks with -40mm springs
Koni Sport Short Shocks with -50mm springs
Eibach Coilovers at -60mm (VW Warranty friendly option)
KW/H&R Coilovers at -60mm (aledgedly better ride and definitely cheaper)

Appreciate there are other options and brands, but these are the ones I've narrowed it down to with all the non Eibach options recommended by CRS, the Eibachs are only there as VW approved.

Decision will primarily be based on drop, head says 40mm will be enough but hearts says to go lower (as will look better)!

What height do you ride at, pic says a thousand words...

My first cali the silver on in 2008 had h&R coulovers.
The white one on B14s both about 70mm

 

[soulstyledevon]

40mm lower on H&R springs. 18 steels....

View attachment 87533

Love the steels…

 

[Oldskoolcali06]

Can anyone recommend best shocks to run with the H&R 40mm drop springs? Need to replace standard shock on the bus for something a bit less choppy.... Though these might be good?

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