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In a bit of trouble with Avis Adjusters - help please!
vorsprungdurchtechnique - March 28th, 2013 at 11:12 PM

Hi folks,

A little help please to get me back on the road in time for Das Resto Haus open day on Sunday!

I've attempted to lower my bug a little this evening and I've not had the outcome I was expecting. I have a beam with Avis Adjusters and here's what I thought the process would be:

1. raise the car, support on bricks or similar, and settle suspension
2. raise the car slightly so trolley jack to takes the weight
3. loosen the avis adjuster bolts
4. slowly lowerer the car to desired position
5. tighten avis adjuster bolts

However, when I loosened the bolts in step 3 the bolt snapped to the bottom position as shown on the photo. I expected the bolt to adjust up or down with the height of the trolley jack but it's firmly snapped into this position. The plates and teeth are perfectly loose. If I drop the jack the car will go super low but as mentioned the avis adjuster bolt does not move.

Thanks for your advice


vorsprungdurchtechnique - March 28th, 2013 at 11:16 PM

another shot if it helps


dangerous - March 29th, 2013 at 05:52 AM

Lifting the car will move the adjuster to the highest position.....and, actually, getting the adjuster up higher will raise the car.
You need to make sure that the two tubes/torsions are not fighting against each other,
so both will need to be backed off.

While there is any tyre contact, the adjuster will stay put,
so you may have to raise the tyres clear off the ground.


vorsprungdurchtechnique - March 29th, 2013 at 07:54 AM

thanks for the reply. both bolts are eased right off but are not moving regardless of if I raise or lower the car - so you are saying this is because the tyres are on the ground? But how can I raise or lower the suspension without having contact with the wheels? thanks


hellbugged - March 29th, 2013 at 08:13 AM

The grub screw should stay in during the process....use an allen key to hold it and take those nuts off out of the way so you can remove the plate.

i think your technique is sound with the car and jack. If all is loosened off so the teeth release on the plates and the car lifted off the ground, the adjuster should go to it's highest point.

Pictured you have it at it's lowest, until you get the treads off the ground again with the nuts and plates off, it will stay there.


vorsprungdurchtechnique - March 29th, 2013 at 08:27 AM

Thanks hellbugged, the grub screw snapped to the position shown in the photo when I loosened the bolts - I'm wondering if the grub screw was unscrewing with the bolts - I wasnt using an allen key to hold it in place. Am I right in saying theres a dimple in the torsion leaves which the grub screw should be in, but may now be out? And if so this sounds like a major problem.


Special Air Service - March 29th, 2013 at 09:29 AM

looks like you are at the bottom limit of your adjusters to me?


matberry - March 29th, 2013 at 11:46 AM

Your forgetting the bars are supporting the vehicle, so they always twist under weight. You need to jack the car up further and by adjusting the vehicle ht. you will see the adjuster move, but it needs to be higher. There are a few variations as mentioned above, whether both adjusters are set to a similar angle so they share the load equally, also if narrowed the bars get a little stiffer so don't twist as much, but essentially the bars always twist the same amount from the load of the car, you are moving the bars anchoing point.


vorsprungdurchtechnique - March 29th, 2013 at 02:34 PM

mission complete, thanks eveyone for your advise. one last question tho, ditch the roll bar for extra clearance or go an inch higher and keep it?


Smiley - March 29th, 2013 at 03:13 PM

Roll bar??



Smiley :)


vorsprungdurchtechnique - March 29th, 2013 at 03:55 PM

sway bar, you no what I think i've answered my own question, it's staying on! cheers


hellbugged - March 29th, 2013 at 05:04 PM

That's a f'n nice ride!


Craig Torrens - March 29th, 2013 at 05:59 PM

needs to go lower:lol::lol::lol:


newghia - March 29th, 2013 at 07:19 PM

Only at the back !!!!!
C'mon, you've got ALL day tomorrow to sort that out ! :smilegrin:


beetle_nut - March 29th, 2013 at 08:10 PM

Nice bug..
Lower in the back would look good..