Hi All,

Just wanting some opinions on Shock Absorber's.
What are people using? What are the best?
Are KYB the brand to get?
Also, is anyone running a heavy duty Anti-roll bar? Thoughts? Is the handling better?
Appreciate any feedback.

Cheers Matty

You have just opened a can of worms.
First things first. What is the application? What year model, what will you use it for? Super, Balljoint or Link Pin?
There are better shocks like Koni or Bilstein, but they cost a lot more.
There is plenty you can do before looking at anti-roll bars. They can be useful for changing the balance of the handling, after everything else is done. I ran my 68 rally car with twin standard front bars because that made it nice and neutral. My current super runs the standard front bar.

Rule of thumb these days is the words "Heavy Duty" on parts means less than nothing.

Personally - I use Bilstein now I can afford them. Last a life time as they are rebuildable
Before that I liked Koni and Sachs

Again, personally, I wouldn't use a Cofap if it was given to me

Other bits need consideration as well.
My 1303 super had Type 3 torsion bars and KYB gas in the rear and 130 pound springs and Sachs inserts up front
Beautiful to drive

Matty my take is Don't go for handling go for comfort that means NO KYB gas oil shocks only Sachs or bills tine bills are the go you can't week them they are adjustable.
Next you need to think about ride height if you lower then measure the unweighted and weighted distance of the mounts without shocks. I recon sway bars are Ok but kombis are uses not race cars.
Best method to lower is spindles as shock distance. Ride distance remains the same.
So I woul d say spindles and bellies you bus deserves them.
Or standard ride height and bikkies KYB gas are HARSH SHIT go oils.
Mitch

I totally disagree with you about the KYB's, I have four cars running KYB gasajusts and all of them ride and handle very well, I have run bilsteins three times and each time one leaked after about one year, I just took a set of my type 34 and fitted KYB gasajusts with no issues, my 60 Ghia had koni's and these were replaced again with KYB's, it rolled I the corners and did not feel stable at speed, much better with the KYB's , only my personnel experience with a multitude of vehicles and many different shocks.

Thanks all.
The bus will be lowered a few inches but not slammed or anything stupid (to old) :p
It will be used as a daily as well as doing a bit of highway driving with the family etc
On the black stuff in want it smooth (yes will be buying decent tyres)... I don't mind if its a little firm, but not hard... off road i don't care... bumps are bumps.
I like handling & cornering to be nice... don't want it to sway/drift/wobble etc also to handle ok in the wind ... if i point it into a corner I want it to go there... well as best a VW bus can of course
It seems there are choices. Pay more or go the KYB's. Can the dearer ones be used on lowered buses? are they adjustable etc

You can't go past the KYB Gasadjust's - good firm ride without being harsh with excellent control.
Bilstein's are just to harsh and not worth the money unless on a track and then you will almost certainly have at least one leak (from experience).

Not being mechanical at all... id have to agree. If you running different shocks/setups on beetle then they are totally different if applied to a bus. IMP

Appreciate all the feedback regardless