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Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 12 Sep 2013, 09:41
by Cruz
Do you know what the single biggest and best change I made to my steering when on motorways? it was to change the two tophat bushes on the steering column. They were both worn and meant I had to turn the wheel quite a bit each way before I actually started to affect the steering. It meant the wind had cart blanche to buffet me around without me being able to do anything to stop it.
Thought it was in the WIKI but here it is
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 8#p7664601" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 12 Sep 2013, 09:46
by pionte
good post Cruz.... needs to be in the wiki for sure.
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 12 Sep 2013, 20:44
by KamperKev
sassy wrote:Fitting polybushes where possible or replacing with brand new rubber where not to the entire front end helped a lot.
Steering rack bushes, antiroll bar etc.
The difference that and 70mm springs made was just astounding.
A lot more definite it its driving manner!
polybushes on the steering rack. Best modification i have made to my van. Drives straight, and the wind buffeting and non stop correcting is a thing of the past.
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 13 Sep 2013, 06:48
by pionte
KamperKev wrote:sassy wrote:Fitting polybushes where possible or replacing with brand new rubber where not to the entire front end helped a lot.
Steering rack bushes, antiroll bar etc.
The difference that and 70mm springs made was just astounding.
A lot more definite it its driving manner!
polybushes on the steering rack. Best modification i have made to my van. Drives straight, and the wind buffeting and non stop correcting is a thing of the past.
I think that any worn bushes will cause vagueness , always good practice to start with these first.
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 13 Sep 2013, 07:56
by HarryMann
I don't think poly bushes can stop wind buffeting !!
..as Pionte implies, we're usually changing new poly for old worn rubber.
Let's keep this real & reasonable shall we before they become a magic potion for every ill
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 13 Sep 2013, 08:10
by discipleofsketch
So, tell me more about these powerflex steering rack bushes - there's a fair amount of slop in my steering which doesn't help in windy conditions - how long a job is this, and is it the sort of thing that can be attempted by an amateur?
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 13 Sep 2013, 08:27
by HarryMann
Yes its easy enough, one side is slightly more fiddly. Being steering just take it steady, clean threads before unwinding nuts, don't force things, etc and always keep your eyes open for gotchas.
They hold the steering rack to the frame, isolating it with rubber bushes (cotton reel type) or somewhat less compliant polybush equivs. available from e.g. Brickwerks.
NB. I would get someone experienced to check your whole steering and suspension out for wear and play before hoping for a resolution just by fitting polybushes. There are many sources of slop... from the steering column inside the vehicle onwards to the wheel bearings and even tyre pressures.
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 13 Sep 2013, 19:05
by KamperKev
HarryMann wrote:I don't think poly bushes can stop wind buffeting !!
..as Pionte implies, we're usually changing new poly for old worn rubber.
Let's keep this real & reasonable shall we before they become a magic potion for every ill
I agree may not be right for everyone. I may have got the same result if i had just replaced with new rubber. But still they have made a massive improvement on my Van
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 15 Sep 2013, 18:10
by keith
Lets see.... How could you make a van
Less ugly
Less affected by wind
Less able to fit into supermarkets
.....that one has me stumped.
You need the height when camping.....but could really do without it when driving....
Surely the vw engineers must have faced this problem.......
What could the answer be
Im sure something will POP into my mind
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 15 Sep 2013, 18:16
by Dad
Shut it! (Your pop top).
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 15 Sep 2013, 18:17
by keith
Have done....
Drop your ice cream van roof off...
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 15 Sep 2013, 18:20
by Ralf85
keith wrote:Lets see.... How could you make a van
Less ugly
Less affected by wind
Less able to fit into supermarkets
.....that one has me stumped.
You need the height when camping.....but could really do without it when driving....
Surely the vw engineers must have faced this problem.......
What could the answer be
Im sure something will POP into my mind
Here we go again!
On another note on with our slightly lowered suspension our pop top is mostly classed as a car on toll roads, so we save a bit. Occasionally we are classed as the equivalent of a 'high top'. But hey I'm happy!
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 15 Sep 2013, 18:21
by keith
Nice call Ralph...
Channel tunnel and french tolls and driving on the right side of the road on holiday...
Few....im exhausted
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 16 Sep 2013, 21:20
by jason k
pionte wrote:Just an update .
last month I had a few weeks away in the van, Devon, Dorset and Busfest so had a good opportunity to test the new suspension on the motorways.
What a difference
the -50 Avo's and Billies have made a huge difference to the stability at motorway speeds , It is rock steady now... obviously the slab sided nature of the van will always have an effect , basic physics ! but I was not auto lane changing anymore, or driving it like a boat ! As Jason K said earlier , cant recommend this highly enough, although he did have B6 on the Westy Cal, mine are the lower spec B4's, and I dont have power steering , but all in all mine handles nearly as well as his did which was the most sorted van I have driven .
For the money this is the best mod you can do to the van, it will improve the ride and look better .
Cheers pionte it was a great bus to drive, I spent a lot of time and effort getting it just so!!
Its the only van I really miss!
Re: High Top in the wind
Posted: 17 Sep 2013, 06:59
by pionte
jason k wrote:pionte wrote:Just an update .
last month I had a few weeks away in the van, Devon, Dorset and Busfest so had a good opportunity to test the new suspension on the motorways.
What a difference
the -50 Avo's and Billies have made a huge difference to the stability at motorway speeds , It is rock steady now... obviously the slab sided nature of the van will always have an effect , basic physics ! but I was not auto lane changing anymore, or driving it like a boat ! As Jason K said earlier , cant recommend this highly enough, although he did have B6 on the Westy Cal, mine are the lower spec B4's, and I dont have power steering , but all in all mine handles nearly as well as his did which was the most sorted van I have driven .
For the money this is the best mod you can do to the van, it will improve the ride and look better .
Cheers pionte it was a great bus to drive, I spent a lot of time and effort getting it just so!!
Its the only van I really miss!
I so wish that I was in the position financially to have brought it from Kim, its what she wanted and offered it to me for silly cheap money... But I couldnt take advantage of her , we sold it for top money to a guy in Brighton... every day I wince at the thought of all that sea air attacking the bodywork !
I looked out for you at Busfest , did you go ?