Suspension: Standard vs 4Motion

[wrm]

Hi all

I suddenly find myself herding two T5s. 2006 and 2008, AXB Panel Van and AXE 4Motion Multivan. I have a bit of a learning curve ahead...

So... the 4motion is noticably higher off the ground than the Panel Van. Discounting the 225/70R17s on it, from the centre of the wheel hub to the wheel arch I measure 30mm more than on the 2WD. I'm not aware of a lift kit or anything, so my question is: are 4motions a bit taller, and if so, what causes it (i.e. what suspension parts differ on the 4motion)?

W

 

[Skyliner33]

Hi all

I suddenly find myself herding two T5s. 2006 and 2008, AXB Panel Van and AXE 4Motion Multivan. I have a bit of a learning curve ahead...

So... the 4motion is noticably higher off the ground than the Panel Van. Discounting the 225/70R17s on it, from the centre of the wheel hub to the wheel arch I measure 30mm more than on the 2WD. I'm not aware of a lift kit or anything, so my question is: are 4motions a bit taller, and if so, what causes it (i.e. what suspension parts differ on the 4motion)?

W

What are the measurements of the 2 vans? Rather than just tell us one is 30mm higher than the other.

 

[Salty Spuds]

Hi all

I suddenly find myself herding two T5s. 2006 and 2008, AXB Panel Van and AXE 4Motion Multivan. I have a bit of a learning curve ahead...

So... the 4motion is noticably higher off the ground than the Panel Van. Discounting the 225/70R17s on it, from the centre of the wheel hub to the wheel arch I measure 30mm more than on the 2WD. I'm not aware of a lift kit or anything, so my question is: are 4motions a bit taller, and if so, what causes it (i.e. what suspension parts differ on the 4motion)?

W

What are the relevant MGWs? T28/30/32? Has the panel van been lowered? A T28 panel van that’s had a hard life will be a tad saggy compared to a T32 multivan that’s had an easy life. Have any of the vans had their suspension modified? There are lift kits available, my 4mot actually has a 30mm lift kit fitted as part of the VB air suspension.

 

[wrm]

What are the measurements of the 2 vans? Rather than just tell us one is 30mm higher than the other.

_____________________Panel Van__4motion___Difference
Front
Road to wheel centre___305_______350_______+45
Road to wheel arch_____780_______840_______+60
Wheel centre to arch___475_______490_______+15

Rear
Road to wheel centre___310_______360_______+50
Road to wheel arch_____745_______835_______+90
Wheel centre to arch___435_______475_______+40

(Sorry even in Courier the editor loses the formatting so you get underscores)

OK so the wheels add 45/50mm from the road to the centre of the hub. That I knew. But I have 15mm at the front and 40mm at the rear that's coming from the suspension.

What are the relevant MGWs? T28/30/32? Has the panel van been lowered? A T28 panel van that’s had a hard life will be a tad saggy compared to a T32 multivan that’s had an easy life. Have any of the vans had their suspension modified?

They're both T28 SWB I'm not comparing apples and oranges here. Neither are on their first owner, gads, they're a 2006 and a 2008, they're probably heading into the double digits for owner count. No service books or data stickers so I have no idea what the options were. I don't think any work has been done to the suspensions but that's what I'm trying to figure out. Learning curve, as I said.

But OK, reading between the lines, you are implying that in real life there's no difference between standard and 4motion and the differences I see here are due to something else, not the way the factory put them together.

(And yes, I do want to lift the Panel Van a little, which is why I'm trying to understand the geometry).

Thanks all.

 

[Sasquatch]

Strangely enough, at the site I was st this week there as a 4motion parked at the next pitch but one to me and even without a tape measure one could see it was loftier than my T28 on 18's.

 

[DaveD]

I usually notice that my 4Motion T6 on factory springs seems to be taller than most other T6's when parked alongside.
I've often wondered if the 4Motion's are taller or if it's just that so many T6's are lowered.

 

[Sasquatch]

Mine isn't lowered (it has the Eibach levelling kit to restore the ride height it lost to the dampers conversion) and the 4motion was definitely higher. Being a chap to wears a tweed sport coat instead of a hoodie I thought it looked pretty good, nice and practical.

 

[Vanderlust]

I read somewhere in the vw sales stuff when ordering my t6 4motion that the factory fitted suspension is 18 mm higher than a 2wd but that was in 2017 and I can’t remember where.

 

[noggin]

My 4motion which I think is standard sits at 465mm from centre of wheel to arch front and back.

 

[andymcvw1]

Hi all

I suddenly find myself herding two T5s. 2006 and 2008, AXB Panel Van and AXE 4Motion Multivan. I have a bit of a learning curve ahead...

So... the 4motion is noticably higher off the ground than the Panel Van. Discounting the 225/70R17s on it, from the centre of the wheel hub to the wheel arch I measure 30mm more than on the 2WD. I'm not aware of a lift kit or anything, so my question is: are 4motions a bit taller, and if so, what causes it (i.e. what suspension parts differ on the 4motion)?

W

Coils on 4motion springs are much thicker than standard van springs. Probably why it sits higher

 

[Shaun Witts]

The 2018 T6 brochure doesn’t differentiate between 2wd and 4motion for the dimensions, which I would expect are the same as a T5.