Skip to content
Aussieveedubbers

How should a kombi sit on its suspension?

0 likes
Share Share on Facebook Share on X Share on Reddit
Log in to reply

General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#389646
Hi all.

I've been doing some reading recently and I'm a little confused to what the standard rake of a kombi should look like and what it tends to look like after years of use.

I see heaps of mentions of sagging rear ends. Is it usually the rear that sags more than the front?
My van has noticable front sag. Either that or the rear has been lifted in the past.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

Kombi_Rescue Wolfsburg Wizard

440 posts · joined Feb 2005 ·

#389772
try this quick tip,,it's usually when the front end has sagged there are some broken torsion leaves..high mileage and rough use tends to accelerate this problem....check the front end height ..use a trolley jack and pump the front up a little to a std ride height ..look at how the rear end sit's....if its level the front leaves are busted...most bay window beams i have diassembled sport one or two broken leaves these days..hope it helps ...good luck cheers steve

General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#389924
It wouldn't surprise me if it has a broken leaf or three. The shocks are pretty bad on the front, but the torsion bars feel a litle lacklustre. With driver and passenger the front is lucky to clear a gutter. When unloaded it looks pretty normal. Sometimes a shade low.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#389927
You would say that, wouldn't you 🙂

I have a history of destroying undercarriages, so low is not for me. Even though it looks great!
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body

7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#389950
General_Failure wrote:You would say that, wouldn't you 🙂

I have a history of destroying undercarriages, so low is not for me. Even though it looks great!
Destroying undercarriages?

Glad you were not the captain of the Titanic! - Oh yer, he destroyed undercarriage too.

Our bus is not actually lowered in real life, and it sits level front and rear. When we hop in the front it doesn't go down much, so I would assume no leaves are broken.
EJ22 into Bay Microbus - Finished project build thread- click on this spot here for info

General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#391185
I tend to give undercarriages good wipes with rocks, bumps, gutters etc.

I guess my vans frontend needs some work then. Thanks for that.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

Andy Andy\'s Adventures

2,820 posts · joined Nov 2002 ·

#391189
You have a camper? Could also be due to the weight you carry?
The factory manual gives a good run down on setting up suspension, but as a general guide on an empty bus the front should sit touching the upper bump stops (all the way up) and rear ~1/4-1/3 through the travel. This means the bus sits 'nose up' empty.
When you hop in the bus the front should drop, and with driver + passenger the bus will almost be level.

General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#391582
Well, it used to be a camper. And it will be a camper again someday. The last owner pulled out all the camping stuff except the back seat.

The only extra weight is the bullbar on the front. It's a heavy one, but I doubt it would make too much difference.

Nose up when unloaded you say. Ah. I see. So where do I get replacement torsion bars? Given the squishiness I doubt all the leaves are intact.
If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.