Club 80-90 Forums

Hi All
I have been forced to start considering the suspension on my van. Was away for a 2 week holiday, and the absence of engine problems, coolant problems, interior problems, left the issue of wallowing crashing suspension foremost.

That, and breaking a rear spring on the second last day! Only the small coil at the bottom , "No, I'm sure you can't really feel the van leaning over, it's just the road camber". "Are you sure it's ok to drive?", "Pretty sure..."

It is probably on its original springs, and as a converted transporter it sits quite high. However with 5 people, awning and all the camping gibbons, and 5 bikes on the back, it does sit pretty low at the back.

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Where do I want to get to?
Less wallowing around corners and over lumps in the road.
Less crashing over surface imperfections (not big potholes,I'm not looking for miracles, just the wee holes that litter our roads).
Less road noise would also be nice. (Yet to soundproof under seats tho...)
A continued ability to cope with a full camper load, 4 or 5 people, and 4 or 5 bikes on the back.

My assumptions are:
I'll need to replace both rear springs if I have to replace one.
I'll need to do something to the front suspension to do something about the wallowing and crashing.
The shocks are probably as old as the springs.

Lowering. I'm not actively seeking to lower the van. I think it is currently at a standard ride height for a transporter, I can get under it without lifting it.But if lowering will help with the wallowing, then so be it. It is quite handy to be able to get under the van though, as an anxious owner of an old vehicle...

So what should I do? I don't have anyone else here with a T25 to compare with mine, so your advice would be invaluable.
Lower or not? New shocks? Gas or Oil shocks? Bushes? Cost is also an important consideration, as always.

check which arb you have if it's the 19mm one then consider getting the 21mm one instead makes a bit of difference, vw fitted 21mm on heavier passenger vans and campers

I wouldn't lower it personally. Mine is standard height, had some new bushes (std ones) at the front a few years ago. It is still on the springs I bought it with (~11 years ago) but had 4 x new shocks around 6 years ago, std type (Sachs iirc). I remember both when I had most of the front bushes done, and again when I fitted new shocks, how much I noticed improvements in ride, handling and general road manners.

I don't personally think there is much to be gained by fitting "fancy" shocks (or springs) to these vans, just good quality standard parts for me.

btw, I deliberately avoided anything "uprated" or "heavy duty". These vans were designed as 1 ton load builders vans and even loaded up with camping gear, they are likely less loaded than the design brief allowed.

Slight aside = I once had to collect around 12 full size concrete paving slabs in mine, although you could feel the difference in acceleration and braking, it actually handled corners and bumps in the road noticeably better. No doubt the suspension working more within it's designed range. So no heavy duty shocks for me. (mind you, mine is a fairly lightly loaded Tin-Top camper).

Agree with Ghost. I run on big merc wheels and tyres have overhauled front end. It sticks like glue on corners. I often see fast cars not quite able to keep up with me exiting roundabouts. Most pleasant. As Aiden says, the front end has a major effect on how the back handles. You might check the security/state of your droplinks in particular. You'll wallow like an old armchair both front and rear if the ARB has any suspect rubber bushes.

I've seen extreme versions of that where owners almost have to slam the anchors on just to negotiate a tight turning - without realising its not how a T25 is meant to handle when in good order.

Thanks All, sorry for delay in replying, moving house next week, so lots of other stuff on.

Aiden, I've measured my arb at 19mm, but having a quick look around, new or old ones don't seem to leap out at me.

So, ghost and covkid, bushes and shocks sounds like a good investment of time and money over the winter. By standard bushes do you mean rubber rather than poly bushes? Is there any consensus out there on whether poly are good in some locations, or is it all a matter of personal preference? And by standard Sachs shocks, am I right in thinking they are oil, as the originals? I must look and see what gas offers, they seem to be cheaper.

I looked, the bilstein b4 gas shocks just appear to be cheaper, that's all. Cheaper sounds ok to me..., tho I guess you get what you pay for. The old ones haven't rusted away completely yet.

So the question is, poly bushes anywhere in particular?

I'm thinking ill leave changing the arb until after I have seen the effect of bushes and shocks.

Thanks for your time so far.

I have no real depth of experience but having replaced my radius rod rod bushes with poly, I can see some huge improvements.
Coupled with the bushes I replaced springs, shocks and ball joints all with standard parts.
Handling is much more precise and controlled now.

I don't have personal experience of Poly bushes on a T25 (though I did put some, not all, on our 85 Scirocco). The thing is, everyone will report better and more precise handling after fitting them. It's not necessarily because they are loads better, it's likely because you have just swapped out knackered ones for new. Just my thoughts there, not facts Oh, and apparently, if used in some places they can increase noise levels.

Ghost, I did wonder about that "new poly is better than knackered rubber" phenomenon. And anything that increases noise is bad in my book. I think in that case ill stick with new rubber.

When I have the time. Moving house next week, new place has a garage with a pitched roof, hoping to fit barn doors and tie the roof trusses high enough for my high top. That will make exterior winter work a distinct possibility. I might even be able to fit the mini in too!

Thanks all. Time to look at Haynes.

I fitted poly for the top carrier bushes as that made sense to me (they tend to rot and go loose over time) but stuck with rubber on the rest. That seemed to give the right amount of stiffness without being too hard. I simply don't subscribe to the notion that fitting poly bushes everywhere is an improvement by default. Certainly if you do fit them, do a couple and test before doing the lot - you may not like it. If its a bush that is hard to get at (trailing arms a good example) then poly is a good investment, otherwise I'm quite happy to replace rubber ones if they wear out. Poly does last longer but equally you'd be stuck with the result a long time too.