Bay Window Handling

unclejohns78 · Post by **unclejohns78** » Sun May 05, 2002 3:58 pm

Hello,

How can I get my bus to handle better? I want to be able to hold the curves better and have less resistance to crosswinds. All of my suspension is stock so where should I start?

Brent

germansupplyscott · Post by **germansupplyscott** » Sun May 05, 2002 7:24 pm

brent,

start with the tires. make sure you have the correct c, or preferably d load rated tires. they are hard to find, because they are very heavy duty tires in a very small size. yokohama makes an excellent one, there are others.
http://www.type2.com/library/tires.htm

scott lyons

[This message has been edited by punkinfair (edited 05-05-2002).]

JT · Post by JT » Tue May 07, 2002 2:09 pm

Two words - Gas shocks and front and rear sway-bars. I put KYB's and a Sway-a-Way kit on my '76 Westy and the improvement was great. I just mounted some 215/.65-15" tires on custom 7"x15" wheels www.gowesty.com Haven't had a chance to try them yet. Just finishing the install on a new engine (2109 by Jake). Hope to road test everything this weekend. Let you know how they work.

JK · Post by JK » Thu May 09, 2002 8:38 am

The D loadrange are definitely the way to go for my money. There are some good 185 or 195 -14 tires out there. The Yokohamas are probably the best known among bus folk, but Michelin has some called the Agilis I believe. I have some Korean "Hankook" and there are some Taiwanese ones as well. The heavy duty tires will ride a little stiffer but you will be amazed at how it will clean up getting sucked into trucks and blown out of your lane if you are running sloppy tires.

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Thu May 09, 2002 10:37 am

All great advice!

I would add to check bushings that may be worn out and all your ball joints in the front.

I like Bilstein shocks up front (okay KYB GR-2 if the $ is scary) and KYB Gas-A-Just in the rear.

Shocks and tires are your biggest improvement for the time and money.

If you get adventurous you could put on Mercedes 15"+ wheels.

The rear sway bar is a great idea too.

Then again it is a big brick so it will never be a great handler. Just like SUVs cannot handle.

------------------
Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'67 VW Deluxe Westfakia - "Dino"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochese"

Derek May · Post by **Derek May** » Thu May 09, 2002 3:29 pm

My bus came as probably most do, with worn-out ball joints, worn shocks, and the wrong load-rated tire. It handled like every other bus I've ever driven ... like a brick on marshmallows with sloppy streeing.

I made a HUGE difference in handling with the following, basically putting it back to working 'stock' setup:

new tires, Michelin LTX -- these are a "C" rating, but are 195 instead of the stock "D" rated 185s.

new shocks, like pillow said, KYB GR2 up front, and gas-a-just in the back.

new ball joints.

getting the system back to working stock by putting on the right tires, replacing worn ball joints, steering box etc, and fresh shocks does wonders. Feels almost "normal".

unclejohns78 · Post by **unclejohns78** » Fri May 10, 2002 10:11 am

Thanks guys, that gives me a place to start.
any good sources for the anti-sway bars? I know that Wolfgang carries them, any better suppliers?

Brent

Pillow · Post by **Pillow** » Fri May 10, 2002 12:07 pm

I think Wolfgang and Bus Boys are the only hope that I know of?

------------------
Adrian Pillow
'66 VW Westfalia - "Biscuit"
'67 VW Deluxe Westfakia - "Dino"
'79 Porsche 911 SC - "Cochese"

JT · Post by JT » Fri May 10, 2002 3:03 pm

I got my sway bars from Bus Boys. Made a big difference.

CHA914 · Post by **CHA914** » Fri May 10, 2002 5:02 pm

I have a 73 camper that I have been beating on since I was 16 (driving over curbs/speed bumps too fast - even broke my swaybar taking a corner too fast)

Anyway, here is what it does: when I go over a speed bump *slowly* there is a bang sound when the suspension is fully extended - so its not a bottom out sound - it will happen on both sides if I hit a dip too fast, but the passenger side is defin worse than the driver side... is this the ball joints yelling at me? I figure I am going to need to refresh almost everything up there anyway...

any body get the Rebuilt Ball Joint Torsion Arms from the bus boys...seems like a good deal?

Thanks for the help,

Tony