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Post by davejohansen on Jan 22, 2007 13:26:42 GMT -5
Okay need some more advice. I'm trying to plan what all I want to do to my bus before I really get started on it. In regards to lowering.. any thoughts from anyone. Good to do or bad and not recommended? Not sure where I found this pic but to me this bus looks lowered, how much I'm not sure but it has the look I'd like.  Anybody have an opinion? Dave |
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Post by Mowser on Jan 22, 2007 18:56:59 GMT -5
I can actually answer that one. That particular bus used to be owned by my friend. All it has done to it is drop spindles and a straight axle conversion. If you look at the rear you'll notice it's actually higher than level. It needed to go down one notch. The bus didn't have an adjustable beam. Drove real nice too, suspension and all. ;D
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Post by davejohansen on Jan 23, 2007 13:38:24 GMT -5
What's involved with a straight axle conversion?
Dave
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Post by commercialair on Jan 23, 2007 14:15:29 GMT -5
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Post by davejohansen on Jan 23, 2007 14:56:55 GMT -5
Thanks... ;D
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Post by davejohansen on Jan 25, 2007 18:28:27 GMT -5
Anybody have any opinions between straight axle conversion vs irs conversion. I found kits for both at bus boys web site. Both lower the bus but which would be better.
Dave
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Post by rareair on Jan 25, 2007 20:18:23 GMT -5
Anybody have any opinions between straight axle conversion vs irs conversion. I found kits for both at bus boys web site. Both lower the bus but which would be better. Dave It all depends on how low you wanna go. The straight axle kit requires no welding where the IRS kit does. The IRS kit also requires you to find a donor beetle to rob the trans, axles, and control arms from. That being said the IRS conversion will be easier on wheel bearings due to less camber change, and bearings that don't rely on oil from the trans to keep them alive. It will also handle better with the IRS (yes I do realize it's still a bus)  . If it's gonna be really low, I would say IRS or IRS with air ride. If you are going sanely low, then staright axle would be just fine. |
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Post by Mowser on Jan 25, 2007 23:35:01 GMT -5
Anyone done the adjustable springplates while keeping the reductions boxes? Bus Boys sells them and I'm thinking they are the way to keep my riviera good for me daily and camping as well.
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Post by riffraff on Jan 26, 2007 10:43:04 GMT -5
Anyone done the adjustable springplates while keeping the reductions boxes? Bus Boys sells them and I'm thinking they are the way to keep my riviera good for me daily and camping as well. Two problems with that that I can think of. Driving around with negative camber is really hard on tires and can starve the RGB's of oil. Also, what are you going to do on the front? If you leave it stock height, you'll have a droopy ass end, and if you put dropped spindles on, you'll have minimal ground clearance regardless of how high or low the back is. You could put adjusters on the front beam, but then the king pin geometry will be really bad when you're dropped. I don't think the adjustable fronts are all that user friendly either. I think the only way to get the best of both worlds is bagged. IRS rear with Type4 CV's and dropped spindle, bagged front. That is some serious R&D and cash outlay though. I think you should leave the Riv stock height and buy a ratty bullet bus to slam  |
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Post by davejohansen on Jan 26, 2007 14:21:56 GMT -5
As for how low to go, I'm looking for my bus to have about the same stance as the one in my first post (probably about 3"   . I'm leaning toward the straight axle and front dropped spindles. Dave |
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coronabus
NUTTIER than a fruitcake
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What Happens In The Bus...
Posts: 191
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Post by coronabus on Jan 26, 2007 15:24:49 GMT -5
That's what I'm doing on mine, when I eventually get to it. Have all the parts.
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Post by Mowser on Jan 26, 2007 17:28:04 GMT -5
Thanks RiffRaff, you pretty much summed up what I was thinking. Spooky too cause I just so happen to have a "bullet bus" in the backyard that is destined for a shitcanning. I have the adjusters already and a front beam out of a '64. Gonna have a friend put it together for me and I'll decide from there. I never intend to can the Riv but wouldn't mind it being a bit lower for everyday driving. I hate the look of aftermarket wheels on a non lowered bus. So now what am I going to do with all my wheels??? Decisions decisions.
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Post by riffraff on Jan 26, 2007 18:10:43 GMT -5
Mowser
It's always good to have options!
And I agree - very few aftermarket wheels look good on a stock height bus.
Dave
Dropped spindles and straight axle will give you 3 1/2" drop. Still very drivable, but a little sleeker stance.
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Post by davejohansen on Feb 2, 2007 15:21:19 GMT -5
Can anyone shed some light on the lowered spindle concept or "flipped" spindle? Wagenswest says they machine your existing spindles for dropped spindles and you use an inverted kingpin. Am I missing something but if you flip the spindle the steering arm won't be positioned right or does the machine shop reweld the steering arm in the right location? I am hoping that this kit from Vdub Engineering would work on lowered or "flipped" spindles.
Dave
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Post by davejohansen on Feb 2, 2007 18:22:16 GMT -5
I think I just found the answer to my own question duh.. It's not the spindle that flips but the Kingpin?....  The spindle mounts higher so that is where the lowering is acheived. Am I right? Dave |
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. I'm leaning toward the straight axle and front dropped spindles.