Cost and choices?

[BMB_T6.1]

I have a T6.1 T32 Shuttle on the factory suspension and 17" Devonports. It looks a bit like it's on stilts.

I would like to change this but it seems very expensive, am I missing something.

Roughly..
£1700 for shock and springs. £600 for wheels then I'd say £600 for tyres.
So in total £3k ish.

Is there a less expensive option? That isn't too much of a compromise.

Like would just putting 20" wheels and leaving the suspension improve the look?

Thanks

 

[Hobo Mikey]

The joy of owning a VW is priceless.
For everything else there are credit cards

 

[Sasquatch]

£600 for tyres? Aee you not bothering with the fourth one?

And 600 for rims is very optimistic, unless youre planning on used.

As the Rt. Hon. Hobo alludes, Tranporter/velle/shuttle ownership requires a full walletectomy, and as isnt available on the NHS youll have to pay for that too!

 

[ChestnutBrown]

There is of course a cheaper option, which is lowered springs on your existing shocks and stick with the lovely Devonport’s. Second cheapest to do shocks and springs, but not the wheels.

@BMB_T6.1

 

[doncarlyon]

Spacers would help the wheels fill the arch and improve how it looks.

 

[T6Paul]

You just need to find some mates!. According to Google the average weight of a UK male is 85kg, if there are 9 seats in a shuttle that would be around 765kg, I’d imagine that would help reduce the arch gap!

For most people a suspension change is the best way to reduce the arch gap, spacers will help too. Larger diameter wheels just means fitting lower profile tyres, so no gains to be made, unless you fit oversized tyres, but that’s not recommended.

 

[BMB_T6.1]

Spacers would help the wheels fill the arch and improve how it looks.

Have you got a link to what spacers are.. I thought those were the plates that pushed to wheels out slightly?

 

[doncarlyon]

Have you got a link to what spacers are.. I thought those were the plates that pushed to wheels out slightly?

That is what they are. They would help to make the wheels sit further towards the arch lip rather than being lost.

Just google pcd parts wheel spacers and you will find alot of options.

 

[Stay Frosty]

20s on stock suspension isn't the best look or to improve handling...

Way too much arch gap and air beneath the van above but I am a bit of a closet Lowdown fan boy...

 

[DaveD]

I have a T6.1 T32 Shuttle on the factory suspension and 17" Devonports. It looks a bit like it's on stilts.

I would like to change this but it seems very expensive, am I missing something.

Roughly..
£1700 for shock and springs. £600 for wheels then I'd say £600 for tyres.
So in total £3k ish.

Is there a less expensive option? That isn't too much of a compromise.

Like would just putting 20" wheels and leaving the suspension improve the look?

Thanks

If you're thinking £1,200 for wheels and tyres I'd suggest you wait until a good tidy used set come up for sale on here, you'd get a nice set for a lot less than that.

 

[Salty Spuds]

How does the van drive? Apart from the aesthetics are you happy with it? If so, you might be about to spend a lump of money turning it into a show pony that looks nice, (to the beholder) but costs you a fortune in chiropractor and dentist fees. I don’t think that there’s a case on the forum where 20” wheels have improved driver/passenger comfort. Conversely, there are several cases where people have swapped back from 20” wheels to a more sensible option, to improve comfort. Personally, I think if you’re going to go down the wheels/tyres/suspension route, and do the job properly, your budget is tight.
Again, only my personal opinion, but the much maligned Devonport, is probably one of the best t32 wheels out there. But that's just me.

 

[StratosFearXX]

No no no, 20" wheels are MUCH better for everything ... yes I do have some for sale ...

 

[Salty Spuds]

No no no, 20" wheels are MUCH better for everything ... yes I do have some for sale ...

Ooops sorry

 

[Stay Frosty]

Going back to the initial post and changing the suspension to adjustable coilovers... ok, take the van to Steve @CRS Performance and getting his lads to remove the unyielding T32 springs and granite shocks to replace them with adjustable ride height heavy duty car suspension will make the van handle much better on those existing Devonports.
Adding modest thickness wheel spacers will frame the Devonports, within each cavernous wheel arch, pushing them forward out of the shadows flush with the bodywork for a far sleeker look.
Wheel size can change later, at which point you can raise or lower accordingly, something you can't manage with fixed length shortened springs.