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Bilstein B6, Eibach and garage in south England?

Egronnes

Egronnes

Messages
36
Location
Stavanger, Norway
Vehicle
T4 Hightop
I’m on my way through south England to Cornwall and need my shocks replaced. I talked to the VW Heritage in Shoreham, but they don’t have the workshop facilities to mount the kit. Anyone know where I can get the kit and have them mounted at a fair price? I really don’t want to do the work in a ditch or campsite...
 
What’s your planned route to Cornwall? I’m sure there will be plenty of recommendations for you. I use an independent specialist near us (not far from the Georgian city of Bath). Mechanics trained on T4 & T5 with Volkswagen. He fitted our Eibach and Sachs Super Touring. Nice basic little campsite nearby too.


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What’s your planned route to Cornwall? I’m sure there will be plenty of recommendations for you. I use an independent specialist near us (not far from the Georgian city of Bath). Mechanics trained on T4 & T5 with Volkswagen. He fitted our Eibach and Sachs Super Touring. Nice basic little campsite nearby too.


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We’re going to Bath and all the tourist attractions down south. I haven’t considered Sachs, since all I ever read is “get the B6”. Can you give me the name of the garage, please?
 
We’re going to Bath and all the tourist attractions down south. I haven’t considered Sachs, since all I ever read is “get the B6”. Can you give me the name of the garage, please?

Superb. Bath is a stunning city especially in the sunny weather. The garage we use is called Keates Car and Van - website with all their details here. Oliver is the man to speak with. If you need camping recommendations just say the word.


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What’s your planned route to Cornwall? I’m sure there will be plenty of recommendations for you. I use an independent specialist near us (not far from the Georgian city of Bath). Mechanics trained on T4 & T5 with Volkswagen. He fitted our Eibach and Sachs Super Touring. Nice basic little campsite nearby too.


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What are the Eibach and Sachs super touring like? I know I'll have to replace my standard shocks and springs at some stage and it would be good to know what other have used.
 
Superb. Bath is a stunning city especially in the sunny weather. The garage we use is called Keates Car and Van - website with all their details here. Oliver is the man to speak with. If you need camping recommendations just say the word.


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I've heard of a place called TH performance that carries out a lot of work on T4 & T5's. Anyone know of them or if they are any good?
 
What are the Eibach and Sachs super touring like? I know I'll have to replace my standard shocks and springs at some stage and it would be good to know what other have used.

Love em. It’s the Super Touring HD that you want. Loads of positive comment on the t4 forum about them. Sachs are -40mm progressive springs rather than some straight coil types. All running on 17” rims with 55 profile tyres they make for a fairly plush but positive ride. Recommended.
 
I've heard of a place called TH performance that carries out a lot of work on T4 & T5's. Anyone know of them or if they are any good?

Dunno TH.


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Love em. It’s the Super Touring HD that you want. Loads of positive comment on the t4 forum about them. Sachs are -40mm progressive springs rather than some straight coil types. All running on 17” rims with 55 profile tyres they make for a fairly plush but positive ride. Recommended.
They sound great, but I dont think a 40mm drop would suit the Irish roads. I like having the good ground clearance, for occasions I'm driving on bumpy ground or grass etc etc.
 
They sound great, but I dont think a 40mm drop would suit the Irish roads. I like having the good ground clearance, for occasions I'm driving on bumpy ground or grass etc etc.

I don’t think Eibach do standard length springs for the T4. They might but I was replacing some the previous owner had fitted so never investigated. My folks ran the same -40mm on their Exclusive and never had any problems with clearance and they’ve been all over. Come to think of it in the 7 years we’ve had ours clearance has never been an issue. It can be a little ‘crashy’ at speed on very rough surfaces but that’s more likely down to the lower profile tyres. Nothing unbearable though.

The Super Touring HD shock absorbers are standard length so will fit the T4 at standard height and offer more robust damping than the standard VW ones.


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Now I’ve been considering a front end upgrade. I’ve no idea how old the dampers are on the front but it seems a bit naf in corners. My previous bus handled better.
I need to measure the AR bar diameter as I’m not sure the HD version is fitted (27mm or 32?).
My mechanic suggested sourcing the ambulance version which seemed sensible.
Failing that I was thinking, whip it off and weld some extra bar to it or alter the drop link mounts to change the leverage.

Are there adjustable dampers available out there?
 
Actually there should be mag-ride units available ie electrically adjustable ones.
After all it’s only a magnet that alters the viscosity of the damper oil.
 
Now I’ve been considering a front end upgrade. I’ve no idea how old the dampers are on the front but it seems a bit naf in corners. My previous bus handled better.
I need to measure the AR bar diameter as I’m not sure the HD version is fitted (27mm or 32?).
My mechanic suggested sourcing the ambulance version which seemed sensible.
Failing that I was thinking, whip it off and weld some extra bar to it or alter the drop link mounts to change the leverage.

Are there adjustable dampers available out there?

Seems there are two ARBs that VW used - 23.5mm or 27mm. Judging by this diagram you can tell what size you have fitted by the type of droplink used. Item 20 for 23.5mm or 20A for 27mm
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Might be a set of fresh bushes fitted to what you've got would improve things - Powerflex do sets for everything on the T4.
 
Now I’ve been considering a front end upgrade. I’ve no idea how old the dampers are on the front but it seems a bit naf in corners. My previous bus handled better.
I need to measure the AR bar diameter as I’m not sure the HD version is fitted (27mm or 32?).
My mechanic suggested sourcing the ambulance version which seemed sensible.
Failing that I was thinking, whip it off and weld some extra bar to it or alter the drop link mounts to change the leverage.

Are there adjustable dampers available out there?
Out of interest. Does your 150 have a rear ARB fitted? Our 102 doesn't but my folks Exclusive (on the long wheelbase) did have. Wondering if its a case of LWB do and SWB don't.
 
I've heard of a place called TH performance that carries out a lot of work on T4 & T5's. Anyone know of them or if they are any good?

I’ve heard of them, top guys, cali owner and his mechanic runs a T4, they specialise only in T4’s, 5’s and 6’s, only use genuine parts, authorised Bilstein fitters, have a massive profile on facebook with outstanding reviews, part of the club scene (sponsor shows and events), all round good eggs ;-)
 
I’ve heard of them, top guys, cali owner and his mechanic runs a T4, they specialise only in T4’s, 5’s and 6’s, only use genuine parts, authorised Bilstein fitters, have a massive profile on facebook with outstanding reviews, part of the club scene (sponsor shows and events), all round good eggs ;-)

Ha ha. Nice intro. Pleased to meet you. How do non Facebook user find out more about you?


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Ha ha. Nice intro. Pleased to meet you. How do non Facebook user find out more about you?


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We have a website and are contactable during office hours at our unit on 02392473443, by email, sales@thperformance.co.uk , social media etc. There’s only 2 of us, we have been in the VW scene for many a year, we operate a MAHA rolling road, just message us, ask us etc, we are more than happy to help anyone. We offer very good discounts to forum members, discounted servicing etc.
 
We have a website and are contactable during office hours at our unit on 02392473443, by email, sales@thperformance.co.uk , social media etc. There’s only 2 of us, we have been in the VW scene for many a year, we operate a MAHA rolling road, just message us, ask us etc, we are more than happy to help anyone. We offer very good discounts to forum members, discounted servicing etc.
Thanks for the introduction, I've sent you an email.
 
I got them! Picked up the B6 kit at VE Heritage and had them fitted at Thwaits MOT Service in Shoreham. We did notice some change in the car’s behaviour. The Exclusive corners better and braking distance is way shorter and firmer but is still like driving a ferry. Wifey says it’s more comfy and firm all over. I didn’t do the springs, as I didn’t find them on my way. It feels a bit softer at the rear with the B6 compare to the original ones, so a spring upgrade has to be done quickly. Was it worth the price? Well, I am confident they’ll hold up for a few years and they look awesome, so: yes
 
You can’t really go wrong with Bilsteins, I’ve had them on my past 3 T5/6’s, I’ve fitted B14’s as they are adjustable and I prefer my ride being a bit lower. They handle corners and bumps even fully loaded with 4 people and camping equipment easily. The stock suspension (part from being very high) wallows a bit too much for my liking whereas now it’s smooth and handles better.
 
Email sent back to you, we can do it ;-)
Hi Terry, I sent you back a quick email, sorry for rushing you, it’s just I’d like to have the details sorted out before I travel next week.
 
Hi all, on my recent trip to the UK I called to THPerformance, I got a diagnostic checkup and a dyno run and data logging while I was there.
Terry was extremely helpful and a pleasure to deal with.
So if your looking for good honest service for your T4, check these guys out.
 
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