Clonk / bang over bumps - coilovers

[Richard T6.1]

Figured I would post another update.

The konis and eibachs are holding up and performing well. I’ve been doing some work under the van recently and also fitted a new splitter (but a little less aggressively this time!) after the old one taking a bit of a beating when it had an argument with a large kerb (my fault for going in forward too quick) and a normal MOT ramp.

I’ve lifted the van maybe 10mm and had the alignment redone just in case, as everything has been used and altered a bit and also had time to settle down.

The coils adjusted easy enough, but the threads did take a bit of wd40 and a rubber mallet on the collars just to shock them lose from the threads. I guess including jacking up it was 15mins a side.

One comment I will make is that the finish on the collars is a bit fragile, one slip with an adjuster spanner and you rip bits of paint off or powder coating, whatever it is it is thin, same for the red paint on the shocker.

Springs still look like new and still performs well. I was tempted to pull the shocks and adjust them as they are currently on the softest, but though better of it after remembering how much I hated the standard crashy ride with lowering springs, so whilst it might be even more ‘sporty’ I left them as is.

So I am still happy with the kit, super smooth on nice A roads and motorways, and handles our other destroyed back and town roads pretty well, but again, this is comparing stock to this so it is night and day. I have driven a billie van too, that seemed to handle great, but I understand they can have issues (I think I have seen more springs broken and issues mentioned on those than any other, but also seems to be the heavier vans that suffer).

All in all, I still think this is a pretty decent kit, yes it transforms the van in that it lowers nicely for aesthetics, handles better and retains a decent level of comfort. Is it worth 2k including fitting and an alignment? Not sure, would need to compare it to how some other kits drive first.

One of the biggest issues I have discovered is that if you do drive ‘enthusiastically’ on occasion, the seats are diabolical. Next to no support to help hold you in. I am probably going to swap out the driver seat for something more supportive, but I still want to keep the double seat, but no clue how to improve that, as the sitting position is weird but thats for another thread.

Good to read you've got it sorted.

I'm a bit surprised to see the beating TMP kits seem to get on this forum. This is in stark contrast with the Dutch and German Transporter communities & forums where TMP is seen and valued among the best available for VW van. Mine (camper) is on the TMP Sensitive kit (Koni/Eibach), lowered about 65mm and I couldn't be happier. It took a few cycles to dial in the preload and matching damping to find the sweet spot and it has been perfect, 30K KMs in. Amazing comfort and excellent steering, handling and feedback (for a van).

The kit was installed and set up by a Dutch TMP dealer and I also had a lot of direct contact with TMP in Germany. They are very response and helpful and really stand behind their products in my experience. Interestingly and also in contrast with what seems to be the 'common way to go' here is that they explicitly and strongly advised against changing the ARBs (on my T30 at least) as it would impact the sensitivity/responsiveness of the suspension too much. Especially on smaller and one-sided impacts/bumps. This is exactly my experience with a few BMWs in the past so that made sense to me. Their advice was; "please drive 5K KMs with your van and let us know if you would still consider changing the ARBs". You can guess the outcome, no way I would as it's spot for me. So nothing but praise for TMP from me.

 

[phazer]

Good to read you've got it sorted.

I'm a bit surprised to see the beating TMP kits seem to get on this forum. This is in stark contrast with the Dutch and German Transporter communities & forums where TMP is seen and valued among the best available for VW van. Mine (camper) is on the TMP Sensitive kit (Koni/Eibach), lowered about 65mm and I couldn't be happier. It took a few cycles to dial in the preload and matching damping to find the sweet spot and it has been perfect, 30K KMs in. Amazing comfort and excellent steering, handling and feedback (for a van).

The kit was installed and set up by a Dutch TMP dealer and I also had a lot of direct contact with TMP in Germany. They are very response and helpful and really stand behind their products in my experience. Interestingly and also in contrast with what seems to be the 'common way to go' here is that they explicitly and strongly advised against changing the ARBs (on my T30 at least) as it would impact the sensitivity/responsiveness of the suspension too much. Especially on smaller and one-sided impacts/bumps. This is exactly my experience with a few BMWs in the past so that made sense to me. Their advice was; "please drive 5K KMs with your van and let us know if you would still consider changing the ARBs". You can guess the outcome, no way I would as it's spot for me. So nothing but praise for TMP from me.

The roads in Europe are in far far better condition that in the UK, what rides very nicely on smooth tarmac can be tiring and just awful over here. Cheaper or less well designed kits just don't cope well with all of that.

 

[Richard T6.1]

No so sure about that. I've been to the UK many times and yes, many roads are in poor or even horrible condition. But the smaller B and C roads in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal are not really better in general. Let alone the smaller roads in Eastern European countries or Greece...

 

[CRS Performance]

Good to read you've got it sorted.

I'm a bit surprised to see the beating TMP kits seem to get on this forum. This is in stark contrast with the Dutch and German Transporter communities & forums where TMP is seen and valued among the best available for VW van. Mine (camper) is on the TMP Sensitive kit (Koni/Eibach), lowered about 65mm and I couldn't be happier. It took a few cycles to dial in the preload and matching damping to find the sweet spot and it has been perfect, 30K KMs in. Amazing comfort and excellent steering, handling and feedback (for a van).

The kit was installed and set up by a Dutch TMP dealer and I also had a lot of direct contact with TMP in Germany. They are very response and helpful and really stand behind their products in my experience. Interestingly and also in contrast with what seems to be the 'common way to go' here is that they explicitly and strongly advised against changing the ARBs (on my T30 at least) as it would impact the sensitivity/responsiveness of the suspension too much. Especially on smaller and one-sided impacts/bumps. This is exactly my experience with a few BMWs in the past so that made sense to me. Their advice was; "please drive 5K KMs with your van and let us know if you would still consider changing the ARBs". You can guess the outcome, no way I would as it's spot for me. So nothing but praise for TMP from me.

The H & R Coil over kit we sell uses KONI dampers , they are the best with out doubt , If we didn't have this kit we would have probably developed our own version of the TMP kit you have with a few added improvements . . I am however shocked about the statement regarding the A R B s KONI shocks are the perfect match for an A R B upgrade because the damping is adjustable and they probably haven't factored in why we use them a lot in UK , IE to control the additional pop top roof weight in a camper which affects body roll a lot . We dont push roll bars to clients who haven't got decent dampers and rarely to client who dont have a pop top .

 

[Richard T6.1]

I'm not questioning or debating your expertise in any way Steve. I only shared my experience with TMP en my setup so far.

Not to 'defend' them or anything (why would I) but I do know from Christian at TMP that their Sensitive kits are primarily developed on and for California's so with pop tops. There are obviously a lot Cali's on the road there with suspension challenges. I think it's interesting that there are different views and approaches on this. As with anything for that matter.

 

[Kind of Blue]

Good to read you've got it sorted.

I'm a bit surprised to see the beating TMP kits seem to get on this forum. This is in stark contrast with the Dutch and German Transporter communities & forums where TMP is seen and valued among the best available for VW van. Mine (camper) is on the TMP Sensitive kit (Koni/Eibach), lowered about 65mm and I couldn't be happier. It took a few cycles to dial in the preload and matching damping to find the sweet spot and it has been perfect, 30K KMs in. Amazing comfort and excellent steering, handling and feedback (for a van).

The kit was installed and set up by a Dutch TMP dealer and I also had a lot of direct contact with TMP in Germany. They are very response and helpful and really stand behind their products in my experience. Interestingly and also in contrast with what seems to be the 'common way to go' here is that they explicitly and strongly advised against changing the ARBs (on my T30 at least) as it would impact the sensitivity/responsiveness of the suspension too much. Especially on smaller and one-sided impacts/bumps. This is exactly my experience with a few BMWs in the past so that made sense to me. Their advice was; "please drive 5K KMs with your van and let us know if you would still consider changing the ARBs". You can guess the outcome, no way I would as it's spot for me. So nothing but praise for TMP from me.

Hi Richard T6.1: as always very good reading your posts! Can you please provide a link to TMP for our viewers (I always wanted to say something like that !) Dose not matter if it is not multi lingual I guess the translator will do it if we are patient

 

[Kind of Blue]

I am a bit slow, Twin Monotube Project . aware of them

 

[CRS Performance]

Hi Richard T6.1: as always very good reading your posts! Can you please provide a link to TMP for our viewers (I always wanted to say something like that !) Dose not matter if it is not multi lingual I guess the translator will do it if we are patient