Ride question, maybe topping out?

[lloydy]

First question is what is the standard height for a 16" ? I have 30mm spacers fitted as I presumed my springs have sagged. With spacers at the rear my measurement is just under 540mm from hub nut to seam on arch. At the front it is just under 480mm from hub nut to arch lip.
I'm asking as I am noticing on sharp drop off's (doesnt have to be from a great height)I'm getting a 'bang' from the rear, seems to be more the drivers side. Now when I fitted the spacers I noticed this trailing arm was a lot stiffer to push down. Could this stiffness cause the noise as maybe the wheel isn't dropping into the hole in the road? And would that mean that the trailing arm bushes are the culprit? Or am I just to high and need shock extenders?
Cheers, lloyd

[jed the spread]

I would say you are abit high on the back for standard shocks, anything over 50cm will cause some sort of topping out in my limited experience. My Westy sits about 52cm when empty and that was topping out over speed bumps. The Futbus extenders soon sorted this issue out.

jed

[lloydy]

Is that measurement from from the hub nut to arch lip or hub nut to the seam above arch?
Cheers

[jed the spread]

Ah sorry about that its to the underside of the arch.

jed

[lloydy]

Mines is just over 53cm to the underside of the arch, and mine does the same as yours did. ( topping out on speed humps, especially the ones with the gaps in them they seem more steep. Always thought you measured yours to the arch lip? Maybe my springs hadn't sagged? Looks like shock extenders needed at some stage then at least they are easier to fit than trailing arm bushes

[jed the spread]

It takes ten minutes a side tops, http://campervanculture.com/2011/06/fit ... ia-syncro/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

jed

[lloydy]

Cheers for that

[jes*b]

Can you explain how the spacers work, do they result in the van 'looking' higher or is it an invisible lift as such ?

[jed the spread]

Can you explain how the spacers work, do they result in the van 'looking' higher or is it an invisible lift as such ?

With raising a van it knocks the camber so far out it cant be adjusted properly, the spacers give you back the range to have the camber set within.

jed

[jebiga41]

Are you sure it's not all the gold bullion wedged in the back to raise the price of your van on the samba must be at least 25-30k's worth of gold in there

[lloydy]

Are you sure it's not all the gold bullion wedged in the back to raise the price of your van on the samba must be at least 25-30k's worth of gold in there

I had offers! For a lot more than you would think! Keeping it now anyway...........

[lloydy]

Can you explain how the spacers work, do they result in the van 'looking' higher or is it an invisible lift as such ?

With raising a van it knocks the camber so far out it cant be adjusted properly, the spacers give you back the range to have the camber set within.

jed

If you mean the spring spacers I mentioned, they visibly lift the van, if you go too high you need the balljoint spacers to get the camber right, as jed says above

[Plasticman]

to that I'll bear witness
mm

[garyd]

Lloyd,
in your original post you mention that the trailing arms were 'a lot stiffer to push down'. Two lines of thought on this lead to two questions for general consideration.

When people fit rear spring spacers do they release the bolts through the trailing arm bushes so that the bushes can rotate in the chassis brackets and assume a new 'neutral' position at the new ride height? If not, then pushing the arm down will be trying to twist the rubber of the bush, I think.

Second point is, with the new ride height the trailing arm is at a different angle (ie sloping downwards more) and will affect the wheel alignment (probably in all three axes). Are people re-setting alignment after fitting spacers?

I am looking for the general consensus as I may be fitting spacers myself in the near future.

thanks

Garyd

[jed the spread]

Are people re-setting alignment after fitting spacers?

I have had mine done and reset front and back, thats why the wishbone spacers are fitted so it could be corrected.

jed