CaveVan Forum

VW T4 "Eurovans" => Exterior => Topic started by: porschetrimr on January 15, 2016, 11:10:05 am

Title: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: porschetrimr on January 15, 2016, 11:10:05 am
Have many of you lifted your t4 suspension and if so ,is there a kit available for t4s or have you used rear coilovers and just altered the torsion bars at the front?
Mines a 2wd btw
Im considering doing it but i cant find much info over here ,id like to do it right and it would be great to hear about the affects on handling,traction ,improvements off road ,increased fuel consumption etc etc
Also tyre sizes that dont rub would be a great help too
Cheers
Dan
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: Cole on January 15, 2016, 03:00:17 pm
I've lifted a bunch of them. Actually sell spacers here on this site.


Largest tire I've fit so far is a 225/70/16. (1.5" rear spacers, torsion bars adjusted)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1551/24214714435_9092e9180f_c.jpg)
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: porschetrimr on January 16, 2016, 06:03:15 pm
Do they just fit between the spring and platform?thats a really simple ,effective solution!
Hows it affect the ride ?i have factory sport suspension which is approx 20mm lower , so i wouldnt see much lift over stock though would i ???
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: Cole on January 18, 2016, 08:25:09 pm
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/482/20386992681_ab90f9b58e_z_d.jpg)
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: my_vw_sucks on February 02, 2016, 02:24:58 pm
I've lifted a bunch of them. Actually sell spacers here on this site.


Largest tire I've fit so far is a 225/70/16. (1.5" rear spacers, torsion bars adjusted)


I only see .75" spacers for sale.  Or do you simply stack two spacers?

The EV you have pictured with the spacers looks awesome BTW

(http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0904/7278/products/lift1a_1024x1024.jpg?v=1435542053)
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: Cole on February 02, 2016, 02:51:06 pm
Yes, stacking 2 sets to get 1.5" (silver van is 1.5" and 225/70/16)

I can actually make full 1.5" spacers now if someone didn't want to stack them.

These are a pretty basic spacer made of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. Which is why they aren't very expensive. But they do work very well. Better than using a rubber spacer.
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: porschetrimr on February 11, 2016, 12:51:58 am
Thanks cole

Are different ,longer shocks required and do you recommend changingnor uprating anything else ? Adding a rear Sway bar for instance ?
Finally will you ship to uk and any idea on cost ?
Thanks alot
Dan
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: Cole on February 11, 2016, 06:12:04 am
Adding a rear swaybar is a wonderful upgrade and should be required with or without a lift.

But, no, you don't need one.

The stock shocks also work fine.

Send me an address and I'll figure out what shipping costs.
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: wavevan on February 11, 2016, 09:40:31 am
Any extra intel on sliding the stacked spacers in?


Just got the goods Cole, Thank You!
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: Cole on February 11, 2016, 10:46:57 am
It really is pretty simple.

Just jack up and support the van.

Unbolt the lower shock bolt (16mm).  This will let the rear control arm drop far enough to let the spring fall out.

If you have a rear sway bar it's best to unbolt both rear shock bolts at the same time (instead of just doing no one at a time)

Take the spring out, line up the spring isolator in its grove and place the spacers on top. Put it al back in and attach the lower shock bolt.

If you are doing this on the graage floor. It's often easier to put the wheels back on and slightly lower the van to help push the control arms up to get the lower shock bolts back in.

Tighten every thing up and then adjust the front.
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: wavevan on February 11, 2016, 02:40:04 pm
Awesome Thank You Cole.

Hopefully will put them on this weekend, so will post pics up for everyones reference!

Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: wavevan on February 15, 2016, 12:05:30 pm
Lift off!

but can't post images for some reason...
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: mastersryan! on August 09, 2016, 10:38:07 am
Did you figure out how to post pics? would be nice to see some behind the scene's on the install, esp with the front.
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: my_bmw_sucks on August 10, 2016, 10:40:04 am
Any tips on lifting the passenger side front would be appreciated. I get to a certain point and the bolt wants to rotate out of the mounting holes. Only way I found to counteract this was to drop the tire to the ground. When I do that it's virtually impossible to tighten the nut.


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Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: Cole on August 10, 2016, 10:45:14 am
Clean the threads!

WD40 and/or brake parts cleaner
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: my_bmw_sucks on August 10, 2016, 11:11:48 am
I'm at a loss. Used tons of brake clean/wire brush and penetrating oil. I might just replace the whole nut and bolt to make it easier.


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Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: Cole on August 10, 2016, 11:30:55 am
50/50 mix of acetone and ATF

Best bolt breaker out there. Google it ;)
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: mastersryan! on August 15, 2016, 07:59:15 am
Any progress?
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: my_bmw_sucks on November 30, 2016, 06:07:27 pm
Never checked back on this. I ended up pulling the bolt out and cleaning the crap out of it. On installation, when the bolt wanted to rotate out of the mount, I put a jack under the tire to add load. When it got too hard to turn the bolt I would lower the jack a bit making sure there still pressure on the bolt so it wouldn't rotate but where I could then turn the nut a bit more.


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Title: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: my_bmw_sucks on April 21, 2017, 03:28:46 pm
Gah, back at it. Installed 1.5" spacers at the back. Lifted the driver side front. But that damn torsion adjusting bolt on the passenger side front just wants to rotate out of its cradle. I got a little over stock ride height and now I'm pulling what's left of my hair out. I guess it's time to bite the bullet and by the gowesty deep 27mm.


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Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: Gypsymobile on May 17, 2017, 01:17:27 pm
Hey folks, Noobie EVW owner here...

I'm looking to lift my ride as well.

Just purchased a set of 225/60/16 -102s, and am hunting for either a set of Billies or Foxes to upgrade the suspension.

From what I understand, is that I'll need to adjust the torsion bars in the front, and add spacers to the back..

What other considerations or adjustments have to made to the vehicle in order to successfully accomplish a "proper" Lift?

Thanks !
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: my_vw_sucks on May 22, 2017, 02:55:56 pm
From what I understand, is that I'll need to adjust the torsion bars in the front, and add spacers to the back..

That pretty much covers it.
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: billymiller on May 30, 2017, 03:34:19 pm
FWIW - I installed 1.5" spacers and went with the GW Fox shocks and have found a less than desirable ride up front - the rears feel great, but the front feels underdamped - very soft.

Fox has no real solution for this aside from revalving the shocks which may or may not correct the feel the van has.

GoWesty's advice for me on this  was that using the torsion bar to achieve a lift in the front results in the suspension feeling soft with little rebound control. They suggest only lifting the front high enough to achieve the necessary wheel clearance.

Plenty of others on here have done this lift, but I have yet to hear of this issue being common, unless anyone out there has something to add to this??


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Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: SWSL on July 01, 2017, 01:03:54 pm
Cole and others know a lot more about torsion bars, but from everything I understand, adjusting ride height on one should not change spring rate but maybe it preloads it more?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsion_bar_suspension (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsion_bar_suspension)

Unless it's just fatigued, it seems that it should behave about the same, if not stiffer.

I lifted my old Nissan truck in the rear by adding leafs to the pack and then adjusted the front torsion bars to level and that worked fine. If the ride changed any, it was stiffer, but never really noticed.   Different vehicle, of course.

About to do the same on my new EVW, will report back.

Steve
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: billymiller on July 02, 2017, 10:54:55 am
Thanks Steve

I've adjusted the front to several different heights, with the only change I THINK being a slight increase in stiffness with the bars tightened (increased ride height) like you said.

So unless I have a problematic torsion bar my money is on the shocks being the culprit for the feel of the suspension.

Hopefully a revalving is all that's needed.

Keep us posted on your results.


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Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
Post by: SWSL on July 02, 2017, 01:36:59 pm
Yep, seems like the shocks.  I got the Bilstein HDs and will install sometime in July.  Although GoWesty promotes their custom-valved "extra" HD Bilsteins as best even for the Weekender, most report the HDs as being about right for a weekender.

Revalving the Fox shocks could be better than the HDs depending on how much they adjust and how much weight you add.
Title: Re: Lifting a t4 advice
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