increasing T3 vanagon stability

giuguar, Montag, 21. Mai 2012, 04:05 (vor 4875 Tagen)

Hello everybody,
sorry if I don't write in german but I don't know your language and I need some help.
I own a T3 westfalia TD1.6, at the moment I'm renewing the engine; after that I'm going to renew schock absorbers coils etc. In order to increase stability I don't want to modify the height of suspensions so I would like to add some spacers between the disk brake and the wheel to enlarge a bit the distance between wheels, I suppose this, together with larger tyres will increase stability. Do you think is this causing some damage in a long while to the steering or the brackets of the schock absorbers or whateverelse? I need you opinion guys!

Thanks for your time.

Giulio

increasing T3 vanagon stability

schwitzerDoKa, Montag, 21. Mai 2012, 15:34 (vor 4874 Tagen) @ giuguar

Hi giugar, as i understand, your talking spacers to 'widen' the axl distance left-right. this should not damage anything (as long as you respectthe mudgard!!!) i don't know what the rules and regulations are in your country but there is a heap of place left over in the mudguards to fill up.

note for stability: 1 reinforced tyres (so called C-tyres (commercial/ligt truck)
2 Harder reinforced springs (upto 30% easily available on the internet, especially for campers and permanent load.

this will give you more stability then you might think. i've mounted 205/14 reinforced and in the hills i can drive faster then many other luxury car, just by not having to slow down as much for the bends and certainly not because of 70PS :smoke: !!!

hope this will help you a bit,
besides; Rim spacers look cool!!!

increasing T3 vanagon stability

schwitzerDoKa, Montag, 21. Mai 2012, 15:35 (vor 4874 Tagen) @ giuguar

with 205 /14 you actually need spacers if you wanna use Snowchains, i did it with out but sometimes they touch!

increasing T3 vanagon stability

Red Star, Montag, 21. Mai 2012, 15:42 (vor 4874 Tagen) @ giuguar

Hi there,
don´t care about any damage. In germany we´re heading on 200 or 300 thousand miles with lowered suspension or spacers without any impact on the material. Just keep in mind to check suspension concerning chamber, toe or castor angle pre and post refitment. It is a common misunderstanding that spacers increase stability - they increase steering! They don´t avoid instability but reduce the required angle of the steering wheel to correct the disturbance. Furthermore they lower the car slightly due to the function of wishbone/control arms.

When your refer to shearwinds or road conditions you´ve got several options:
- spacers
- shocks
- tire ratio
- springs
- center gravity

I would sugget the use of spacers and tire with 50 or 45 ratio and 16 or 17 inch rims. 16" has little impact on comfort, 17" is the best tradeoff between comfort and stability. Large means nothing - it depends on manufacturer, plyrate and carcass build. Ratio is the less elusive indicator...

Also keep in mind that many springs extend with the decades: they once had been bended from a straight piece of wire and can remember. New or a bit lower ones should increase stability in addition. Maybe old springs make your efforts become ineffective.

Finally center gravity increses stability when you put more weight to the front. Avoid cupboards, bike carriers, hightops and water tanks in the rear. Tires increase their stiffness by load. Drive a double cab and feel the difference...

Cheers!

increasing T3 vanagon stability

giuguar, Dienstag, 22. Mai 2012, 05:43 (vor 4874 Tagen) @ giuguar

thanks a lot for the precious information you shared.
I was also thinking about fitting a front anitrollbar, the problem is that it seems it is quite difficoult to find over the internet, do you have any suggestion for buying it online?