Soften up!

[richierockdog]

Hi everyone, bit of advice required. I run a standard 2019 t6 t32 swb combi as my everyday transport that I’ve been driving for over a year now and am finding the ride quite harsh (I do have ongoing problems with my back) I previously owned a 2013 t5 t30 combi and don’t remember the ride being as harsh as it is now! Both ran/run standard 17” Davenport alloys with 235 tyres. Any ideas for softening the ride up a bit? Many thanks.

 

[StratosFearXX]

Tyre pressures?

 

[Sasquatch]

More forgiving tyres, although with the load requirements of a T32 you're pretty kneecapped for choice on that front.

 

[Stay Frosty]

T32 springs are made from solid blocks of steel I guess?
If it helps I'm on my second aftermarket suspension set up after the springs broke on the first but as a T28 you would think mine should have rode like a feather bed compared to the heavier rated suspension of a T32 but it was awful, compared to a Transit or Vivaro it was bouncy, crashy and loved to lunge at a hedge like a Springer Spaniel
Go and see Steve @CRS Performance, he'll savage your wallet but as a suspension whisperer he will calm that wayward beast.

 

[Kind of Blue]

If you are suffering from the harsh ride, talk to @ CRS Performance and consider a suspension upgrade to KONI. I do not suggest lowering tyre pressures below manufacturers suggestions that could be illegal. However the larger tyres more voluminous tyres have lower pressures for instance mine are now F 35psi, R 34psi unladen but are oversize BFG KO AT 255/55R18. Pressures originally where in the 40's i seem to recall 44/41psi. I use a tyre comparison site to compute the new pressures. Most people when shifting to different tyres use the same pressures as old when going up in size but they could be over inflated. More expensive again is going air suspension and not for low-down street cred but some feel it is a better more comfortable ride ride. Seating is another important thing , firstly make sure that your posture is good there may be Physio type video around showing how to sit in a car and hold the steering wheel. Certainly a Physiotherapist could advise. Another thing is to have the best seats preferably with multiple adjustments. Depending on what the trouble with your back is but many men suffer low back pain and the simplest thing to do is to role up a towel and place it in the small of the back to support the natural lordosis or curvature in the small of the back. Most people, especially men sit with there arms too strait bad for control but also puts the body in an unnatural posture.

If some one is suffering back pain there is a lot to do for ones self but the best thing is to take advice to have it diagnosed and often or not certain exercises can help Physiotherapists are the best for advice.

 

[richierockdog]

Thanks for all the replies. Would it be as simple as fitting T30 springs all round? I never considered my previous combi a harsh ride, maybe my back is getting worse but is it the T32 exacerbating that situation my friend who looks after all our vehicles even thought it was a harder ride when I first got it! Thanks again.

 

[StratosFearXX]

Not sure you can do that legally/safely? When I said tyre pressures in my first post I meant what pressures are you using? My '07 Kombi was very harsh when I picked it up (13 years ago) until I discovered the tyres were on recommended pressures i.e. to cope with 1.2 tonne of bricks in the back, 55psi IIRC. Not so good for an empty van!

 

[Sasquatch]

Springs wont make it harsh umkess theyre ridiculously stiff. Poorly matched damping will.

To be fair they're commercial vehicles and VW probably set the damping rates to account for a reasonable load on board for much of the time.

I'd be inclined to seek the advicemof a specialist rather than just fire the parts cannon randomly.

 

[richierockdog]

Not sure you can do that legally/safely? When I said tyre pressures in my first post I meant what pressures are you using? My '07 Kombi was very harsh when I picked it up (13 years ago) until I discovered the tyres were on recommended pressures i.e. to cope with 1.2 tonne of bricks in the back, 55psi IIRC. Not so good for an empty van!

Okay thanks I’ll check those pressures out see where they’re at, how much did you reduce them to?

 

[StratosFearXX]

Okay thanks I’ll check those pressures out see where they’re at, how much did you reduce them to?

I was running 42 all round but I was on 235/55/19s. Can't remember what I had the 16s at but around that sort of pressure.

 

[Alster]

I’ve been looking at this myself and it seems to be more about the shock absorbers than the springs. As others have said have a word with @CRS Performance or @BognorMotors

 

[BognorMotors]

Always happy for a chat on the phone to run through your options with you. DM your contact details.

 

[StratosFearXX]

Always happy for a chat on the phone to run through your options with you. DM your contact details.

While you're here (Oli presumably) the 4 motion manual Kombi I got from you a few weeks ago (Ed) do the shocks/springs 'run in' after a few thousand miles do you think? I'm sure mine are feeling more compliant, may just be be getting used to them ...

 

[BognorMotors]

While you're here (Oli presumably) the 4 motion manual Kombi I got from you a few weeks ago (Ed) do the shocks/springs 'run in' after a few thousand miles do you think? I'm sure mine are feeling more compliant, may just be be getting used to them ...

Hello - Hope you're enjoying the van. I think you are just getting used to it, there is no running in period for suspension.

 

[StratosFearXX]

Hello - Hope you're enjoying the van. I think you are just getting used to it, there is no running in period for suspension.

Oh yeah, definitely enjoying it, great machine but having to learn a lot about the new vehicles, quite miss my old T5!

 

[Lubrown]

Okay thanks I’ll check those pressures out see where they’re at, how much did you reduce them to?

I would check inside your door pillar for a sticker showing tyre sizes and the appropriate air pressures. Mine shows two pressures for each size valid on the vehicle - one pressure for unladen and one for fully laden. As I have a T28 but my van, fully converted, weighs 2260kg I interpolate the pressure I need based on these two figures.

If you can’t find the sticker this unfit will probably also be in the drivers handbook.

It shouldn’t be guesswork or using what someone else with maybe different wheels/tyres has gone for.

 

[CRS Performance]

Hi everyone, bit of advice required. I run a standard 2019 t6 t32 swb combi as my everyday transport that I’ve been driving for over a year now and am finding the ride quite harsh (I do have ongoing problems with my back) I previously owned a 2013 t5 t30 combi and don’t remember the ride being as harsh as it is now! Both ran/run standard 17” Davenport alloys with 235 tyres. Any ideas for softening the ride up a bit? Many thanks.

As people have mentioned , a call to us will enlighten you no end, we can explain the problem and the solutions for you . Dont throw money at this until you have chatted to the common sense side of the industry .